I  B  R.ARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 
Of    ILLINOIS 

977.5 

C55 
COP. 3 


iii.nist .Survey 


Ohio   Valley    Historical    Series. 

NU  MBER    THREE. 


CLARK'S 

Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark's 


SKETCH   OF  HIS 


Campaign  in  the  Illinois 

in  1778-9 

WITH 

AN   INTRODUCTION 
By  Hon.  Henry  Pirtley  of  Louisville 

AND 

AN  APPENDIX 


CONTAINING 


The  Public  and   Private  Instructions   to   Col.   Clark 

AND 

MAJOR    BOWMAN'S   JOURNAL 

or  THE 

Taking  of  Post  St.  Vincents. 


CINCINNATI: 
ROBERT    CLARKE  &  CO. 
1869. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1869, 

BY  ROBERT  CLARKE  &  CO. 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  Ohio. 


OHIO  VALLEY  PRESS, 
ROBERT   CLARKE   <t    CO. 

CINCINNATI,    O. 


CSS  >  *t' 


PUBLISHERS'  NOTICE. 


HE  letter  here  printed  for  the  first  time,  was 
presented  to  the  Historical  Society  of  Kentucky 
by  Hon.  George  Mason,  of  Gunston  Hall,  Vir- 
ginia, to  whom  it  was  addressed.  We  are  indebted  to 
Hon.  Henry  Pirtle,  of  Louisville,  for  the  privilege  of 
incorporating  it  in  our  SERIES,  and  also  for  the  Intro- 
duction. 

We  have  endeavored  to  follow  the  manuscript  as 
closely  as  was  possible  in  print,  adding  only  a  word 
here  and  there  (in  italics),  which  seemed  necessary  to 
complete  the  sense.  To  have  modernized  it  would 
have  required  so  many  alterations,  that  we  thought  it 
unadvisable  to  make  the  attempt.  A  few  notes  have 
been  added  which  may  be  of  some  use  or  interest  to 
the  reader. 

We  have  appended  the  "public"  and  "private" 

W 

615012 


vi  Publishers    Notice. 

instructions  received  by  Col.  Clark,  for  his  guidance 
during  the  expedition,  from  Patrick  Henry,  Governor 
of  Virginia,  and  also  the  "Journal"  kept  by  Major 
Bowman  during  a  portion  of  the  campaign — the  taking 
of  Post  St.  Vincents — and  revised  by  some  unknown 
"  person  who  was  in  the  expedition."  The  manuscript 
of  this  Journal  was  at  one  time  in  the  possession  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  Kentucky,  but  has  unfor- 
tunately been  lost. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,  by  Eon.  Henry  Pirtle,  1 

Biographical  Sketch,          ----.--  0 

Letter  of  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark,  21 
Appendix : 

Gov.  Patrick  Henry's  Instructions  to  Col.  Clark,  95 

Major  Bowman's  Journal,      -----  98 
Index,        --------- 


ntrocluctory. 


LL  GENERATIONS  of  American  people  will  owe  a  debt, 
that  can  not  be  measured,  to  the  memory  of  Colonel 
GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK,  and  his  brave  officers  and  sol- 
diers, for  the  results  of  the  campaign  the  progress  of  which 
is  so  simply  narrated  in  the  ensuing  pages.  This  is  the 
original  letter  sent  by  Colonel — afterward  General — Clark, 
to  the  illustrious  revolutionary  statesman,  George  Mason, 
of  Virginia,  his  friend  and  patron. 

On  the  second1  of  January,  seventeen  hundred  and 
eighty-one,  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  declared  in  certain  res- 
olutions passed  that  day,  that  "  Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark 
planned  and  executed  the  secret  expedition  by  which  the 
British  posts  between  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  were 
reduced."  In  this  undertaking  he  had  not  even  the  advice 
of  General  Washington,  or  of  any  other  officer,  and  was 
at  the  time  only  twenty-five  years  of  age.  But  for  this 
conquest  made  by  Colonel  Clark  for  the  United  States — 


2  Introductory. 

and  particularly  for  Virginia — in  the  midst  of  the'  terrible 
struggle  with  England,  the  boundary  of  our  land,  conquered 
in  the  revolution  from  Great  Britain,  would,  in  all  proba- 
bility, have  been  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Ohio,  or  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  instead  of  the  eastern  shore  of  the 
Mississippi.* 

This  whole  country  between  the  rivers,  in  no  very  definite 
expressions,  had  been  transferred  by  France  to  England  by  the 
treaty  of  Paris,  1763,  and  possession  rather  indefinitely  deliv- 
ered in  1765.  The  people  of  Illinois,  in  1771,  demanded  a 
government  of  their  own  by  the  people,  as  free  and  bold 
as  had  been  claimed  as  an  English  and  American  princi- 
ple in  New  England  and  South  Carolina  ;  and  in  1772 


*  The  following  letter  of  Mr.  Jefferson   shows  his   antici- 
pation   of  the    importance   of  this    expedition  : 

"Williamsl^     *      *      * 
COL.  GEO.  R.  CLARK, 

Sir: 

Your  letter  and  verba      *      *      * 

by  Mr.  St.  Vrain  was  received  to-day.  Your  w  *  * 
attended  to.  Much  solicitude  will  be  felt  for  the  result  of  your 
expedition  to  the  Wabash ;  it  will,  at  least,  delay  their  expe- 
dition to  the  frontier  settlement,  and  if  successful,  have  an 
important  bearing  ultimately  in  establishing  our  northwestern 
boundary. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 

TH.  JEFFERSON." 


A  portion  of  the  letter  has  been  torn  off  and  lost. 


Introductory.  3 

they  sent  through  their  agent  in  London,  Daniel  Blinn, 
their  indignant  protest  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  the  British  Sec- 
retary, against  a  new  government  proposing  to  put  them 
under  the  officers  of  the  crown  only.  This  government 
against  which  they  protested,  included  Vincennes,  which  had 
then  been  settled  more  than  seventy  years.  These  facts 
are  alluded  to  as  showing  the  direct  and  sole  possession 
and  acknowledged  dominion  of  Great  Britain  at  the  time 
of  our  revolution. 

Yet  Spain  and  France  both  contended  in  the  prelim- 
inary negotiations  at  Paris  in  1782,  that  this  great  land 
could  not  be  ceded  to  the  United  States,  that  they  had 
no  legal  claim  to  it.  Dr.  Franklin,  in  August,  this  year, 
when  engaged  in  these  negotiations  at  Paris,  speaking  of  the 
claim  of  Spain  to  the  western  country,  says :  "  My  con- 
jecture of  that  court's  design  to  coop  us  up  within  the 
Allegheny  mountains,  is  now  manifest.  I  hope  Congress 
will  insist  on  the  Mississippi  as  the  boundary,  and  the  free 
navigation  of  the  river  from  which  they  would  exclude  us." 

The  claim  that  Spain  made  was  futile,  and  could  not 
bear  examination.  She  could  not  connect  her  claim  to  the 
Lower  Mississippi  with  this  territory.  The  constructive  pos- 
session could  not  reach  up  so  far ;  Clark  had  built  Fort 
Jefferson  below  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  Virginia  had 
actual  possession  also  between  the  rivers.  This  was  the 
pretense  of  Spain;  in  the  winter  of  1781,  a  detachment  of 
about  sixty-five  Spaniards,  accompanied  by  about  the  same 


4  Introductory. 

number  of  Indians,  took  possession  of  a  small  English  Fort, 
called  St.  Joseph,  situated  near  the  source  of  the  Illinois 
river.  They  hoisted  the  Spanish  standard,  and  pretended 
to  take  possession  of  the  fort,  and  its  dependencies,  and 
of  the  river  Illinois,  in  the  name  of  the  Spanish  king. 
This  was  what  the  Spanish  minister  called  a  conquest :  and 
he  insisted  that,  if  the  country  did  not  belong  to  the  king 
of  Spain,  it  did  not  belong  to  the  Americans,  but  to  the 
Indians. 

France  could  make  no  claim :  she  could  only  dispute 
the  claim  of  the  colonies,  or  of  the  United  States ;  and 
even  this  she  forebore  to  do  through  her  principal  minister 
the  Count  de  Vergennes,  but  Rayneval,  the  principal  sec- 
retary of  the  great  minister,  was  put  forward,  to  make  this 
dispute. 

The  negotiations  at  Paris  in  1782,  as  far  especially 
as  Spain  and  France  were  concerned,  were  for  the  matters 
of  compromises  between  these  powers  respectively  and  Great 
Britain ;  and  they  so  ended  as  far  as  these  three  powers 
were  concerned ;  and  it  did  not  matter  to  them  how  the 
Americans  came,  out  in  these  negotiations.  The  object  in 
regard  to  the  western  country,  was  to  keep  it  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  United  States,  and  then  it  could  be  set  off  to 
one  or  other  of  the  three  powers  in  consideration  of  some- 
thing else.  England  was  then  temporizing  with  Spain,  as  the 
issues  of  these  conferences  between  England,  Spain,  and 
France  showed  to  every  observer.  How  else  could  Spain 
have  claimed  anything  in  the  face  of  Britain  ?  But  the 


Introductory.  5 

English  envoy  could  not  pretend  that  it  did  not  belong 
to  the  colonies  that  had  set  themselves  up  as  the  United 
States.  The  conquest  had  been  fully  made  by  Clark  in 
1778  and  1779  ;  and  in  October,  1778,  the  county  of  Illi- 
nois was  established  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia, 
covering  all  the  territory,  and  provision  was  made  for  its  pro- 
tection by  reinforcements  to  the  army  of  Clark ;  and  in 
May,  1780,  the  act  of  October,  1778,  was  continued  and 
amended,  and  other  reinforcements  ordered  by  Virginia. 
In  fact,  as  an  almost  natural  result  from  Clark's  campaign, 
the  land  between  the  rivers  was  actually  under  the  gov- 
ernment de  facto,  as  well  as  de  jure,  of  this  country,  for 
it  could  not  be  denied  that  the  patent  of  Virginia,  with 
some  portion  to  other  colonies,  covered  the  whole  region, 
so  that  the  arms  of  Clark  had  settled  the  question  of 
possession,  and  civil,  as  well  as  military  rule,  of  this  great 
territory,  which  now  holds  so  many  millions  of  people. 
These  prominent  facts  were  before  the  British  minister, 
and  before  the  world.  He  could  not  say,  then,  that  this 
part  of  the  land  was  in  the  power  of  England,  any  more  than 
Virginia  herself  was  after  the  battle  of  Yorktown ;  and  he 
was  too  accurate  a  jurist  to  yield  to  any  claim  of  Spain, 
or  to  hear  the  objections  of  France.  But  what  would 
have  been  the  judgment  of  Great  Britain,  beset  by  France 
and  Spain,  and  looking  to  its  own  aggrandizement,  as  every 
country  does,  if  this  campaign  had  never  been  made  ?  The 
force  of  conquest,  the  moving  etiquette  of  treaties  of  peace, 
would  have  been  lost. 


6  Introductory. 

But  there  are  additional  facts  springing  out  of  this 
conquest.  The  act  of  Congress  of  1780  recommended  to 
the  several  states  to  cede  their  out-lands,  such  as  those 
west  of  the  Ohio,  to  Congress,  looking,  of  course,  to  what 
had  been  done  by  Clark.  And  the  act  of  Virginia  of  Octo- 
ber 20,  1783,  about  the  transfer  of  these  lands  to  Congress, 
recites  the  act  of  Congress  of  1780  and  the  Virginia  act 
of  1781,  concerning  these  same  lands.  And  Virginia,  on  2d 
January,  1781,  granted  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres 
to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Clark,  and  the  same  act 
reserved  land  for  other  officers  and  soldiers  between  the 
rivers  Scioto  and  Little  Miami. 

Now,  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace  and  boundary 
had  been  under  negotiation  for  months,  and  were  signed  by 
Oswald  for  England,  and  by  Adams,  Franklin,  Jay,  and 
Laurens  for  America,  on  the  3Oth  of  November,  1782, 
when,  of  course,  these  things  had  been  well  understood ; 
and  afterward,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1783,  the  definite 
treaty  of  peace  and  boundary  was  signed  at  Paris  by  Hartley 
for  England,  and  Adams,  Franklin,  and  Jay  for  the  United 
States.  Surely  all  that  had  followed  the  campaign  of  Col- 
onel Clark,  had  been  well  debated  and  considered,  and  but 
for  our  holding  the  country  under  military  and  civil  rule,  as 
much  a  part  of  the  United  States  as  any  other  portion  of 
its  territory,  we  would  have  had  our  boundary,  not  the 
east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  but  the  east  bank  of  the 
Ohio,  or  the  ridge  of  the  "Alleghenies.  In  contemplating 
the  depth  of  our  gratitude,  let  us  think  whether  New 


Introductory.  7 

Orleans  and  St.  Louis  and  all  the  great  country  of  Lou- 
isiana would,  in  any  reasonable  probability,  have  been  pur- 
chased of  the  First  Consul,  and  come  to  us  through  Mr. 
Jefferson  but  for  this  campaign  of  Clark.  No,  certainly 
not.  This  magnificent  country,  made  of  this  and  other 
purchases,  now  extending  as  one  with  us  to  the  north 
Pacific,  might  to  this  hour  have  been  broken  from  us  at 
the  mountain's  summit  or  the  river's  shore. 

H.    P. 


Biographical  Sketch. 


[  The  following  sketch  of  the  Life  of  General  Clark  is  given 
in  Lewis  Collins'  HISTORICAL  SKETCHES  OF  KENTUCKY.] 

GENERAL  GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK,  whose  name  is 
deservedly  celebrated  in  the  early  history  of  Kentucky, 
and  conspicuously  prominent  in  the  conquest  and  settlement  of 
the  whole  west,  was  born  in  the  county  of  Albemarle,  in  the 
State  of  Virginia,  November  19,  1752.  Of  his  early  years  and 
education,  but  little  is  known.  In  his  youth,  he  engaged  in  the 
business  of  land  surveying,  which  appears  to  have  presented  to 
the  enterprising  young  men  of  that  day,  a  most  congenial  and 
attractive  field  for  the  exercise  of  their  energies.  It  is  worthy 
of  remark,  that  many  of  the  most  opulent  and  influential  fam- 
ilies of  Kentucky  were  founded  by  men  engaged  in  this  pursuit. 
How  long  Clark  engaged  in  this  vocation,  is  unknown.  He 
commanded  a  company  in  Dunsmore's  war,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  only  active  operation  of  the  right  wing  of  the  invading 
army  against  the  Indians.  At  the  close  of  this  war,  he  was 
offered  a  commission  in  the  English  service,  but,  upon  consulta- 
tion with  his  friends,  he  was  induced  by  the  troubled  aspect  of 


io  Biographical  Sketch. 

the  relations  between  the  colonies  and  Great  Britain,  to  decline 
the  appointment. 

In  the  spring  of  1775,  he  came  to  Kentucky,  drawn  hither 
by  that  love  of  adventure  which  distinguished  him  through  life. 
He  remained  in  Kentucky  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  this 
year,  familiarizing  himself  with  the  character  of  the  people  and 
the  resources  of  the  country,  until  the  fall,  when  he  returned  to 
Virginia.  During  this  visit,  he  was  temporarily  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  irregular  militia  of  the  settlements ;  but  whether 
he  held  a  commission  is  not  known.  In  the  spring  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  (1776),  he  again  came  to  Kentucky,  with  the 
intention  of  making  it  his  permanent  home ;  and  from  this  time 
forth,  his  name  is  closely  associated  with  the  progress  of  the 
western  settlements  in  power  and  civilization. 

His  mind  had  been  very  early  impressed  with  the  immense 
importance  of  this  frontier  country  to  the  security  of  the  parent 
State  of  Virginia,  as  well  as  to  the  whole  confederacy ;  and  his 
reflections  on  this  subject  led  him  to  perceive  the  importance  of 
a  more  thorough,  organized,  and  extensive  system  of  public 
defense,  and  a  more  regular  plan  of  military  operations,  than  the 
slender  resources  of  the  colonies  had  yet  been  able  to  effect. 
With  the  view  of  accomplishing  this  design,  he  had  been  in 
Kentucky  but  a  few  months,  when  he  suggested  to  the  settlers 
the  propriety  of  convening  a  general  assembly  of  the  people  at 
Harrodstown  (now  Harrodsburg),  to  take  steps  toward  forming 
a  more  definite  and  certain  connection  with  the  government  and 
people  of  Virginia  than  as  yet  existed.  The  immediate  neces- 
sity for  this  movement  grew  out  of  the  memorable  and  well 
known  conflict  between  Henderson  &  Co.  and  the  legislature 
of  Virginia,  relative  to  the  disputed  claim  of  jurisdiction  over  a 
large  portion  of  the  new  territory.  The  excitement  which 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  n 

arose  out  of  this  dispute,  and  the  prevailing  uncertainty  whether 
the  south  side  of  Kentucky  river  appertained  to  Virginia  or 
North.  Carolina  (the  latter  claiming  by  virtue  of  Henderson's 
purchase  of  the  Cherokees  at  the  treaty  of  Wataga),  added  very 
greatly  to  the  perplexity  of  the  settlers,  and  rendered  it  necessary 
that  the  disposition  of  Virginia  should  be  distinctly  ascertained. 
The  proposed  meeting  was  accordingly  held  at  Harrodstown  on 
the  6th  of  June,  1776,  at  which  Clark  and  Gabriel  Jones  were 
chosen  members  of  the  assembly  of  Virginia.  This,  however, 
was  not  precisely  the  thing  contemplated  by  Clark.  He  wished 
that  the  people  should  appoint  agents,  with  general  powers  to 
negotiate  with  the  government  of  Virginia,  and  in  the  event  that 
that  commonwealth  should  refuse  to  recognize  the  colonists  as 
within  its  jurisdiction  and  under  its  protection,  he  proposed  to 
employ  the  lands  of  the  country  as  a  fund  to  obtain  settlers  and 
establish  an  independent  State.  The  election  had,  however, 
gone  too  far  to  change  its  object  when  Clark  arrived  at  Har- 
rodstown, and  the  gentlemen  elected,  although  aware  that  the 
choice  could  give  them  no  seat  in  the  legislature,  proceeded  to 
Williamsburg,  at  that  time  the  seat  of  government.  After  suf- 
fering the  most  severe  privations  in  their  journey  through  the 
wilderness,  the  delegates  found,  on  their  arrival  in  Virginia,  that 
the  legislature  had  adjourned,  whereupon  Jones  directed  his 
steps  to  the  settlements  on  Holston,  and  left  Clark  to  attend  to 
the  Kentucky  mission  alone. 

He  immediately  waited  on  Governor  Henry,  then  lying 
sick  at  his  residence  in  Hanover  county,  to  whom  he  stated  the 
objects  of  his  journey.  These  meeting  the  approbation  of  the 
governor,  he  gave  Clark  a  letter  to  the  executive  council  of  the 
State.  With  this  letter  in  his  hand  he  appeared  before  the 
council,  and  after  acquainting  them  fully  with  the  condition  and 


12  Biographical  Sketch. 

circumstances  of  the  colony,  he  made  application  for  five  hun- 
dred weight  of  gunpowder  for  the  defense  of  the  various  sta- 
tions. But  with  every  disposition  to  assist  and  promote  the 
growth  of  these  remote  and  infant  settlements,  the  council  felt 
itself  restrained  by  the  uncertain  and  indefinite  state  of  the  rela- 
tions existing  between  the  colonists  and  the  state  of  Virginia, 
from  complying  fully  with  his  demand.  The  Kentuckians  had 
not  yet  been  recognized  by  the  legislature  as  citizens,  and  the 
proprietary  claimants,  Henderson  &  Co.,  were  at  this  time 
exerting  themselves  to  obtain  from  Virginia  a  relinquishment  of 
her  jurisdiction  of  the  new  territory.  The  council,  therefore, 
could  only  offer  to  lend  the  gunpowder  to  the  colonists  as 
friends,  not  give  it  to  them  as  fellow-citizens.  At  the  same  time 
they  required  Clark  to  be  personally  responsible  for  its  value,  in 
the  event  the  legislature  should  refuse  to  recognize  the  Ken- 
tuckians as  citizens,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  defray  the  expense 
of  its  conveyance  to  Kentucky.  Upon  these  terms  he  did  not 
feel  at  liberty  to  accept  the  proffered  assistance.  He  repre- 
sented to  the  council  that  the  emissaries  of  the  British  were 
employing  every  means  to  engage  the  Indians  in  the  war ;  that 
the  people  in  the  remote  and  exposed  stations  of  Kentucky 
might  be  exterminated  for  the  want  of  a  supply  which  he,  a 
private  individual,  had  at  so  much  hazard  sought  for  their  relief, 
and  that  when  this  frontier  bulwark  was  thus  destroyed,  the 
fury  of  the  savages  would  burst  like  a  tempest  upon  the  heads 
of  their  own  citizens.  To  these  representations,  however,  the 
council  remained  deaf  and  inexorable  ;  the  sympathy  for  the 
frontier  settlers  was  deep,  but  the  assistance  already  offered  was 
a  stretch  of  power,  and  they  could  go  no  farther.  The  keeper 
of  the  public  magazine  was  directed  to  deliver  the  powder  to 
Clark  ;  but  having  long  reflected  on  the  situation,  prospects  and 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  13 

resources  of  the  new  country,  his  resolution  to  reject  the  assist- 
ance on  the  proposed  conditions,  was  made  before  he  left  the 
council  chamber.  He  determined  to  repair  to  Kentucky,  and, 
as  he  had  at  first  contemplated,  exert  the  resources  of  the  coun- 
try for  the  formation  of  an  Independent  state.  He  accordingly 
returned  the  order  of  the  council  in  a  letter,  setting  forth  his 
reasons  for  declining  to  accept  their  powder  on  these  terms,  and 
intimating  his  design  of  applying  for  assistance  elsewhere,  adding, 
"that  a  country  which  was  not  worth  defending,  was  not  worth 
claiming."  On  the  receipt  of  this  letter  the  council  recalled 
Clark  to  their  presence,  and  an  order  was  passed  on  the  23d  of 
August,  1776,  for  the  transmission  of  the  gunpowder  to  Pitts- 
burg,  to  be  there  delivered  to  Clark  or  his  order,  for  the  use  of 
the  people  of  Kentucky.  This  was  the  first  act  in  that  long 
and  affectionate  interchange  of  good  offices,  which  subsisted 
between  Kentucky  and  her  parent  state  for  so  many  years ;  and 
obvious  as  the  reflection  is,  it  may  not  be  omitted,  that  on  the 
successful  termination  of  this  negotiation,  hung  the  connection 
between  Virginia  and  the  splendid  domain  she  afterward  ac- 
quired west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains. 

At  the  fall  session  of  the  legislature  of  Virginia,  Messrs. 
Jones  and  Clark  laid  the  Kentucky  memorial  before  that  body. 
They  were,  of  course,  not  admitted  to  seats,  though  late  in  the 
session  they  obtained,  in  opposition  to  the  exertions  of  Colonels 
Henderson  and  Campbell,  the  formation  of  the  territory  which 
now  comprises  the  present  state  of  that  name,  into  the  county 
of  Kentucky.  Our  first  political  organization  was  thus  obtained 
through  the  sagacity,  influence  and  exertions  of  George  Rogers 
Clark,  who  must  be  ranked  as  the  earliest  founder  of  this  com- 
monwealth. This  act  of  the  Virginia  legislature  first  gave  it 
form  and  a  political  existence,  and  entitled  it  under  the  constitu- 


14  Biographical  Sketch. 

tion  of  Virginia  to  a  representation  in  the  assembly,  as  well  as 
to  a  judicial  and  military  establishment. 

Having  obtained  these  important  advantages  from  their 
mission,  they  received  the  intelligence  that  the  powder  was  still 
at  Pittsburg,  and  they  determined  to  take  that  point  in  their 
route  home,  and  bring  it  with  them.  The  country  around 
Pittsburg  swarmed  with  Indians,  evidently  hostile  to  the  whites, 
who  would  no  doubt  seek  to  interrupt  their  voyage.  These  cir- 
cumstances created  a  necessity  for  the  utmost  caution  as  well  as 
expedition  in  their  movements,  and  they  accordingly  hastily 
embarked  on  the  Ohio  with  only  seven  boatmen.  They  were 
hotly  pursued  the  whole  way  by  Indians,  but  succeeded  in  keep- 
ing in  advance  until  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Limestone 
creek,  at  the  spot  where  the  city  of  Maysville  now  stands. 
They  ascended  this  creek  a  short  distance  with  their  boat,  and 
concealed  their  cargo  at  different  places  in  the  woods  along  its 
banks.  They  then  turned  their  boat  adrift,  and  directed  their 
course  to  Harrodstown,  intending  to  return  with  a  sufficient 
escort  to  insure  the  safe  transportation  of  the  powder  to  its 
destination.  This  in  a  short  time  was  successfully  effected,  and 
the  colonists  were  thus  abundantly  supplied  with  the  means  of 
defense  against  the  fierce  enemies  who  beset  them  on  all  sides. 

The  space  allotted  to  this  brief  sketch,  will  not  admit  of  a 
detailed  narrative  of  the  adventures  of  Major  Clark  after  his 
return  to  Kentucky.  Let  it  suffice  to  say,  that  he  was  uni- 
versally looked  up  to  by  the  settlers  as  one  of  the  master  spirits 
of  the  time,  and  always  foremost  in  the  fierce  conflicts  and  des- 
perate deeds  of  those  wild  and  thrilling  days. 

Passing  over  that  series  of  private  and  solitary  adventures 
in  which  he  embarked  after  he  returned  from  Virginia,  and  in 
which  he  appears  to  have  taken  a  peculiar  pleasure,  but  of  which 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  15 

no  particulars  have  been  preserved,  we  shall  proceed  at  once  to 
notice  his  successful  expedition  against  the  British  posts  of  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Vincennes  ;  one  of  the  most  important  events,  if 
we  estimate  it  by  its  consequences,  immediate  and  remote,  in 
the  early  history  of  the  west.  It  was  at  the  same  time  marked 
by  incidents  of  romantic  and  thrilling  interest,  and  a  striking 
display  of  the  qualities  of  courage,  perseverance,  and  fortitude, 
which  bring  to  mind  the  heroic  deeds  of  antiquity. 

The  war  in  Kentucky  previous  to  this  time  had  been  a  true 
border  war,  and  conducted  in  the  irregular  and  desultory  manner 
incident  to  that  kind  of  hostilities.  Nearly  all  the  military 
operations  of  the  period  resembled  more  the  predatory  exploits 
of  those  sturdy  cattle-drovers  and  stark  moss-troopers  of  the 
Scottish  highlands,  whose  valorous  achievements  have  been 
immortalized  by  the  graphic  pen  of  the  author  of  Waverly,  than 
the  warfare  of  a  civilized  people.  Every  man  fought  pretty 
much  "  on  his  own  book"\  and  waged  the  war  in  a  fashion  to  suit 
himself.  He  selected  his  own  ground,  determined  upon  the 
time,  place,  and  manner  of  attack,  and  brought  the  campaign  to 
a  close  whenever  his  own  inclinations  prompted.  The  war 
indeed  was  sustained,  and  its  "sinews  supplied,"  by  the  adven- 
turous spirit  of  private  individuals.  The  solitary  backwoodsman 
would  sharpen  his  hunting  knife,  shoulder  his  rifle,  and  provide 
himself  with  a  small  quantity  of  parched  corn  as  a  substitute  for 
bread,  and  thus  equipped  for  service,  start  on  an  expedition  into 
the  Indian  country,  without  beat  of  drum  or  note  of  warning. 
Arrived  on  hostile  soil,  he  would  proceed  with  the  caution  of  a 
panther  stealing  on  his  prey,  until  he  reached  the  neighborhood 
of  a  village,  when,  concealing  himself  in  the  surrounding  thick- 
ets, he  would  lie  in  wait  until  an  opportunity  presented  of  shoot- 
ing an  Indian  and  stealing  a  horse,  when  he  would  return  to  the 


1 6  Biographical  Sketch. 

cultivation  of  his  farm  and  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  his  business. 
Even  those  more  ambitious  enterprises  which  occasionally 
diversified  this  personal  warfare,  were  the  result  rather  of  the 
spontaneous  combination  of  private  individuals,  than  of  any 
movement  by  the  state.  The  perseverance  and  gallantry  of  the 
backwoodsman  was  left  to  sustain  itself,  with  little  assistance 
from  the  power  of  Virginia,  at  that  time  engaged  in  the  tremen- 
dous struggle  of  the  war  of  Independence,  which  demanded  all 
her  energies  and  taxed  all  her  resources.  The  state  had  not 
disposable  means  to  act  on  so  remote  a  frontier,  nor  does  she 
appear  to  have  been  distinctly  aware  of  the  important  diversion 
of  the  Indian  force,  which  might  be  made  by  supporting  the 
exertions  of  Kentucky.  As  little  did  she  perceive  the  rich 
temptations  offered  to  her  military  ambition  in  the  British  posts 
in  the  west.  Yet  every  Indian  engaged  on  the  frontier  of  Ken- 
tucky was  a  foe  taken  from  the  nearer  frontier  of  the  parent 
state.  And  in  those  remote  and  neglected  garrisons  of  Kaskas- 
kia,  Vincennes,  and  Detroit,  was  to  be  found  the  source  of  those 
Indian  hostilities  which  staid  the  advancing  tide  of  emigration, 
and  deluged  the  whole  west  in  the  blood  of  women  and  children. 
These  combined  views,  however,  began  to  acquire  weight 
with  the  Virginia  statesmen,  with  the  progress  of  the  revolution, 
and  the  rapid  increase  of  emigration  to  Kentucky;  and  they 
were  particularly  aided  and  enforced  by  the  impressive  repre- 
sentations of  Major  Clark.  To  his  mind  they  had  been  long 
familiar,  and  his  plans  were  already  matured.  He  was  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  condition,  relations,  and  resources  of 
the  country,  and  with  that  instinctive  genius  which  stamps  him 
as  the  most  consummate  of  the  western  commanders,  he  saw  at 
a  glance  the  policy  required  to  develop  the  nascent  strength  and 
advantages  of  the  infant  settlements.  At  a  glance,  he  discov- 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark*  17 

ered  what  had  so  long  escaped  the  perspicacity  of  the  Virginia 
statesmen,  that  the  sources  of  the  Indian  devastations  were 
Detroit,  Vincennes,  and  Kaskaskia.  It  was  by  the  arms  and 
clothing  supplied  at  these  military  stations  that  the  merciless 
ferocity  of  these  blood-thirsty  warriors  was  stimulated  to  the 
commission  of  those  fearful  ravages  which  "  drenched  the  land 
to  a  mire."  If  they  could  be  taken,  a  counter  influence  would 
be  established  over  the  Indians,  and  the  streams  of  human 
blood,  which  deluged  the  fields  of  Kentucky,  would  be  dried  up. 

So  strongly  had  the  idea  of  reducing  these  posts  taken  pos- 
session of  the  mind  and  imagination  of  Major  Clark,  that  in  the 
summer  of  1777  he  dispatched  two  spies  to  reconnoiter  and 
report  their  situation.  On  their  return  they  brought  intelligence 
of  great  activity  on  the  part  of  the  garrisons,  who  omitted  no 
opportunity  to  promote  and  encourage  the  Indian  depredations 
on  the  Kentucky  frontier.  They  reported  further,  that  although 
the  British  had  essayed  every  art  of  misrepresentation  to  preju- 
dice the  French  inhabitants  against  the  Virginians  and  Ken- 
tuckians,  by  representing  these  frontier  people  as  more  shocking 
barbarians  than  the  savages  themselves,  still  there  were  to  be 
seen  strong  traces  of  affection  for  the  Americans  among  many 
of  the  inhabitants. 

In  December,  1777,  Major  Clark  submitted  to  the  execu- 
tive of  Virginia  a  plan  for  the  reduction  of  these  posts.  The 
result  was  a  full  approbation  of  the  scheme,  and  the  governor 
and  council  entered  into  the  undertaking  so  warmly  that  every 
preliminary  arrangement  was  soon  made. 

[  We  omit  here  Collins*  sketch  of  the  campaign  in  Illinois,  which 
is  more  fully  recorded  in  Col.  Clark's  Letter.^ 


1 8  Biographical  Sketch. 

Soon  after  this  Louisville  was  founded,  and  he  made  it  his 
headquarters.  In  1780  he  built  Fort  Jefferson,  on  the  Missis- 
sippi. In  the  course  of  this  year  he  led  an  expedition  against 
the  Indians  of  Ohio,  the  occasion  of  which  was  as  follows  :  On 
the  ist  of  June,  1780,  the  British  commander  at  Detroit  assem- 
bled six  hundred  Canadians  and  Indians,  for  a  secret  expedition 
under  Col.  Byrd,  against  the  settlements  in  Kentucky.  This 
force,  accompanied  by  two  field  pieces,  presented  itself  on  the 
22d,  before  Ruddell's  station,  which  was  obliged  to  capitulate. 
Soon  after  Martin's  station  shared  the  same  fate,  and  the  inhab- 
itants, loaded  with  the  spoil  of  their  own  dwellings,  were  hur- 
ried off  toward  Canada. 

A  prompt  retaliation  was  required,  and  when  Colonel  Clark 
called  on  the  militia  of  Kentucky  for  volunteers  to  accompany 
his  regiment  against  the  Indians,  they  flocked  to  his  standard 
without  delay.  The  point  of  rendezvous  was  the  mouth  of 
Licking  river,  where  the  forces  assembled.  They  were  sup- 
plied with  artillery,  conveyed  up  the  river  from  the  Falls.  When 
all  assembled,  the  force  amounted  to  nearly  a  thousand  men. 
The  secrecy  and  dispatch  which  had  ever  attended  the  move- 
ments of  this  efficient  commander  continued  to  mark  his  progress 
on  this  occasion.  The  Indian  town  was  reached  before  the 
enemy  had  received  any  intimation  of  their  approach.  A  sharp 
conflict  ensued,  in  which  seventeen  of  the  savages  were  slain, 
with  an  equal  loss  on  the  part  of  the  whites.  The  Indians  then 
fled,  the  town  was  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  gardens  and  fields 
laid  waste.  Col.  Clark  returned  to  the  Ohio  and  discharged  the 
militia,  and  the  Indians,  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  hunting  for 
the  support  of  their  families,  gave  the  whites  no  further  trouble 
that  season. 

For  a  long  time  the  ever  active  mind  of  Clark  had  been 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  19 

revolving  a  scheme  for  the  reduction  of  the  British  post  at 
Detroit,  and  in  December  of  the  year  1780,  he  repaired  to 
Richmond,  to  urge  the  government  to  furnish  him  with  means 
to  execute  this  long-cherished  design.  His  views  were  approved, 
but  before  the  necessary  arrangements  could  be  completed,  a 
British  force  from  New  York,  under  Arnold,  carried  hostilities 
into  the  heart  of  the  State.  Clark  took  a  temporary  command 
under  Baron  Steuben,  and  participated  in  the  active  operations 
of  that  officer  against  the  marauding  traitor. 

After  several  months  had  been  spent  in  indefatigable  efforts 
to  raise  a  force  of  two  thousand  men,  for  the  enterprise  against 
Detroit,  the  several  corps  destined  for  the  service  were  desig- 
nated, and  ordered  to  rendezvous  on  the  I5th  of  March,  1781, 
at  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  and  Clark  was  raised  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general;  but  unexpected  and  insuperable  difficulties 
arose,  and  the  ardent  genius  of  the  commander  was  confined  to 
defensive  operations.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  turning 
point  in  the  fortunes  of  the  hardy  warrior.  He  had  set  his  heart 
on  destroying  the  British  influence  throughout  the  whole  north- 
western territory.  Could  he  have  had  the  means  which  he 
required,  his  advancement  in  rank  would  no  doubt  have  been 
gratifying ;  but  without  a  general's  command,  a  general's  com- 
mission was  of  no  value.  Dangers  and  hardships  would  have 
been  disregarded  ;  but  with  his  small  force  to  be  stationed  on 
the  frontier  to  repel  the  inroads  of  a  few  predatory  bands  of 
Indians,  when  he  was  eager  to  carry  the  war  to  the  lakes,  was 
more  than  he  could  bear,  and  it  preyed  upon  his  spirit.  From 
this  time  forth  his  influence  sensibly  decreased,  and  the  innate 
force  and  energy  of  his  character  languished  and  degenerated. 

He  was  a  lion  chained,  but  he  was  still  a  lion,  and  so  the 
enemy  found  him  in  1782.     When  the  news  of  the  disastrous 


2O  Biographical  Sketch. 

battle  of  the  Blue  Licks  reached  him,  he  took  immediate 
measures  to  rouse  the  country  from  that  benumbed  torpor  of 
anguish  and  despondency  in  which  this  great  calamity  had 
plunged  it,  and  to  carry  the  war  once  more  into  the  enemy's 
country.  In  September,  a  thousand  mounted  riflemen  assem- 
bled on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  at  the  mouth  of  Licking,  and 
moved  against  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Miami  and  Scioto.  The 
Indians  fled  before  them,  and  not  more  than  twelve  were  killed 
or  taken.  Five  of  their  towns  were  reduced  to  ashes,  and  all  of 
their  provisions  destroyed.  The  effect  of  this  expedition  was 
such  that  no  formidable  party  of  Indians  ever  after  invaded 
Kentucky. 

In  1786  a  new  army  was  raised  to  march  against  the 
Indians  on  the  Wabash,  and  Clark,  at  the  head  of  a  thousand 
men,  again  entered  the  Indian  territory.  This  expedition  proved 
unfortunate,  and  was  abandoned. 

Several  years  elapsed  before  the  name  of  General  Clark 
again  appeared  in  connection  with  public  affairs.  When  Genet, 
the  French  minister,  undertook  to  raise  and  organize  a  force  in 
Kentucky  for  a  secret  expedition  against  the  Spanish  possessions 
on  the  Mississippi,  George  Rogers  Clark  accepted  a  commission 
as  major  general  in  the  armies  of  France,  to  conduct  the  enter- 
prise. But,  before  the  project  was  put  in  execution,  a  counter 
revolution  occurred  in  France,  Genet  was  recalled,  and  Clark's 
commission  annulled.  Thus  terminated  his  public  career. 

General  Clark  was  never  married.  He  was  long  in  infirm 
health,  and  severely  afflicted  with  a  rheumatic  affection,  which 
terminated  in  paralysis,  and  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  one  limb. 
After  suffering  under  this  disease  for  several  years,  it  finally 
caused  his  death  in  February,  1818.  He  died  and  was  buried  at 
Locust  Grove,  near  Louisville. 


CLARK'S 

Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 


Louifoille,  Falls  of  Ohio,  Novr  19,  1779. 
MY  DR  SIR,  continue  to  favour  me  with  your  val- 
uable Leflbns ;  Continue  your  Reprimands  as  though 
I  was  your  fon ;  when  fufpicious,  think  not  that 
promotion  or  confer'd  Honour  will  occation  any  un- 
neceflary  pride  in  me;  You  have  infuf'd  too  many 
of  your  Valuable  precepts  in  me  to  be  guilty  of  the 
like,  or  to  mew  any  indifference  to  thofe  that  ought  to 
be  dear  to  me;  it  is  with  pleafure  that  I  obey  in  tranf- 
miting  to  you  a  fhort  {ketch  of  my  enterprife  and 
proceeding  in  the  Illinois,  as  near  as  I  can  Recoiled, 
or  gather  from  memorandoms. 

After  difengaging  myfelf  from  Kentucky,  I  fet 
out  for  Williamfburg  in  Aug*-  1777,  in  order  to 
fettle  my  act8.  I  had  juft  Reafons  known  to  few 
but  myfelf  that  occationed  me  to  refolve  not  to  have 
any  farther  Command  whatever,  without  I  mould 
find  a  very  great  call  for  Troops  and  my  Country 

00 


22  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

in  danger,  in  fuch  cafe  I  was  determined  to  loofe  my 
Life  rather  (than)  we  mould  fubmit.  On  my  arrival  at 
Town  I  found  to  appearance  a  friend  in  many  gen- 
tlemen of  note  that  offered  their  Intereft  to  me  in 
cafe  I  mould  offer  at  any  Poft.  Many  was  furprif 'd 
that  I  would  not  felicit  for  fome  Birth.  I  muft 
confefs  that  I  think  myfelf  often  to  blame  for  not 
makeing  ufe  of  Intereft  for  my  promotion,  but  to 
merit  it  firft  is  fuch  a  fixed  principal  with  me  that  I 
never  could,  and  I  hope  never  mall  afk  for  a  Poft  of 
Honour,  as  I  think  the  Publick  ought  to  be  the 
beft  Judge  whether  a  Perfon  deferves  it  or  not,  if  he 
did  he  would  certainly  be  Rewarded  according  to  the 
Virtue  they  had.  But  finding  that  we  were  in  (an) 
alarming  fituation,  the  Indians  defperate  on  one  fide, 
the  Britains  on  the  other,  I  immediately  Refolved  to 
encourage  an  Expedition  to  the  Illinois.  But  to 
make  it  publick  was  a  certain  lofs  of  it.  I  propof'd 
the  plan  to  a  few  Gentlemen,  they  communicated  it 
to  the  Governour,  it  was  immediately  determined  on, 
to  put  in  Execution  as  foon  as  a  Bill  could  be 
be  patted  to  enable  the  Governour  to  order  it ;  it 
accordingly  pafT'd,  though  but  a  few  in  the  Houfe 
knew  the  real  intent  of  it.  After  giving  the  Council 
all  the  intiligence  I  poffibly  could,  I  refolv'd  to  pur- 
fue  my  other  Plans.  But  being  defired  by  the  Gov- 
ernour to  ftay  fome  time  in  town,  I  wated  with 
impatience,  he  I  fuppofe  believeing  that  I  wanted  the 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  23 

Command,  and  was  determined  to  give  it  to  me;  But 
it  was  far  from  my  Inclination  at  that  time.  I  was 
fummoned  to  attend  the  Council-Board,  the  inftruc- 
tions  and  neceffary  papers  were  ready  for  puting  in 
the  name  of  the  Perfon  to  Command;  I  believe  they 
expected  me  to  felicit  for  it,  but  I  refolved  not  to 
do  fo,  for  reafons  I  hinted  you  before.  However,  I 
excepted  it  after  being  told  the  Command  of  this  little 
Army  was  defign'd  for  me.  I  then  got  every  requeft 
granted,  and  (was)  fully  empowered  to  raife  as  many 
Men  as  I  could,  not  exceeding  a  certain  number,* 
after  being  engaged,  I  was  then  as  Determined  to 
profecute  it  with  Vigour,  as  I  was  before  indifferent 
about  the  Command ;  I  had  lince  the  beginning  of 
the  War  taken  pains  to  make  myfelf  acquainted  with 
the  true  lituation  of  the  Britifh  pofts  on  the  Fron- 
teers,  and  fince  find  that  I  was  not  miftaken  in  my 
judgment.  I  was  ordered  to  Attach  the  Illinois,  in 
cafe  of  Succefs  to  cary  my  Arms  to  any  quarter  I 
pleafed.  I  was  certain  that  with  five  hundred  Men 
I  could  take  the  Illinois,  and  by  my  treating  the 
Inhabitants  as  fellow  Citizens,  and  mew  them  that 
I  ment  to  protect  rather  than  treat  them  as  a  Con- 
quered People.  Engaging  the  Indians  to  our  Inter- 
eft,  &c.,  It  might  probably  have  fo  great  an  effect;  on 
their  Countrymen  at  Detroyet  (they  already  difliked 


*  For  his  instructions,  public  and  private,  see  Appendix. 


24  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

their  Matter)  that  it  would  be  an  eafy  prey  for  me.  I 
fhould  have  mentioned  my  defign  to  his  Excellency, 
but  was  convinced,  or  afraid  that  it  might  leflen  his 
efteem  for  me,  as  it  was  a  general  oppinion  that  it 
would  take  feveral  thoufand  to  approach  that  Place. 
I  was  happy  with  the  thoughts  of  fair  profpect  of 
undeceiveing  the  Publick  refpecting  their  formidable 
Enemies  on  our  Fronteers.  I  left  Williamfburg 
January  the  i8th,  made  as  quick  difpatch  as  poflible 
to  the  fronteers,  and  by  the  end  of  the  month  had 
Recruiting  Parties  difpofed  from  Pitfburg  to  Caro- 
lina, had  my  little  Army  Recruited  in  half  the  time 
I  expected. 

Elivated  with  the  thoughts  of  the  great  fervice  we 
mould  do  our  Country  in  fome  meafure  puting  an 
end  to  the  Indian  War  on  our  fronteers,  it  may  appear 
to  you  to  be  a  mear  prefumption  in  me,  but  I  was 
always  too  jealous  of  myfelf  to  be  far  wrong  in  plans 
that  I  had  fo  long  ftudied,  and  fince  find  that  I  could 
have  executed  it  with  the  greatest  eafe  if  it  had  not  been 
(the)  following  Conduct  of  many  leading  Men  in  the 
fronteers,  that  had  like  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  enter- 
prife,  not  knowing  my  DefHnation,  and  through  a  fpirit 
of  obftinacy  they  combined  and  did'  every  thing  that  lay 
in  their  power  to  ftop  the  Men  that  had  Enlifted,  and 
fet  the  whole  Fronteers  in  an  uproar,  even  conde- 
fcended  to  harbour  and  protect  thofe  that  Deferted ;  I 
found  my  cafe  defperate,  the  longer  I  remained  the 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  25 

worfe  it  was — I  plainly  faw  that  my  Principal  Defign 
was  baffled  —  I  was  refolved  to  pufli  to  Kentucky 
with  what  men  I  could  gather  in  Weft  Augufta ;  being 
Joined  by  Capts  Bowman  and  Helms  who  had  each 
raifed  a  Compy  for  the  Expedition,  but  two  thirds 
of  them  was  ftopt  by  the  undefign'd  Enemies  to  the 
Country  that  I  before  mentioned:  In  the  whole  I  had 
about  one  hundred  &  fifty  Men  Collected  and  fet  fail 
for  the  Falls.  I  had  previous  to  this  received  Letters 
from  Cap1  Smith  on  Holdfton  enforming  me  that  he 
intended  to  meet  me  at  that  place  with  near  two  hun- 
dred Men,  which  encouraged  me  much  as  I  was  in 
hopes  of  being  enabled  by  that  reinforcem1,  at  leaft  to 
attact  the  Illinois  with  a  probability  of  Succefs,  &c. 

I  fet  out  from  Redftone  the  I2th  of  may  leaving 
the  Country  in  great  confufion,  much  diftrefled  by 
the  Indians.  General  Hand,  pleafed  with  my  inten- 
tions furnimed  me  with  every  neceflary  I  wanted 
and  the  —  of  may  I  arrived  at  the  Canoweay*  to  the 
Joy  of  the  Garriflbn  as  they  were  very  weak,  &  had 
the  day  before  been  attached  by  a  large  Body  of  In- 
dians. 

Being  Joined  by  Cap1  Oharrard's  Compy  on  his 
way  to  the  Ofark;  after  fpending  a  day  or  two,  We 
fet  out  and  had  a  very  pleafant  Voyage  to  the  falls 
of  Ohio,  having  fent  Exprefles  to  the  Stations  on  Ken- 


*  Kanawha  River. 


26  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

tucky  from  the  mouth  of  the  River,  for  Cap1  Smith 
to  join  me  immediately  as  I  made  no  doubt  but 
that  he  was  wateing  for  me;  But  you  may  eafily  guefs 
at  my  mortification  on  being  informed  that  he  had  not 
arrived,  that  all  his  Men  had  been  ftopt  by  the  incef- 
fant  labours  of  the  populace,  except  part  of  a  Compy 
that  had  arrived  under  the  Command  of  one  Captain 
Delland,  fome  on  their  march  being  threatened  to  be 
put  into  Prifon  if  they  did  not  return;  this  infor- 
mation made  me  as  Defperate  as  I  was  before  Deter- 
mined. 

Reflecting  on  the  Information  that  I  had  of  fome 
of  my  greateft  opponents  cenfureing  the  Governour 
for  his  Conduct,  as  they  thought,  ordering  me  for  the 
protection  of  Kentucky  only ;  that  and  fome  other 
fecret  impulfes  Occationed  me  in  fpite  of  all  Council 
to  rifque  the  Expedition,  to  convince  them  of  their 
error  until  that  moment,  fecret  to  the  Principal  Of- 
ficers I  had.  I  was  fenfible  of  the  impreffion  it 
would  have  on  many,  to  be  taken  near  a  thoufand 
(miles)  from  the  Body  of  their  Country,  to  attact  a 
People  five  times  their  number,  and  mercilefs  Tribes 
of  Indians  their  Allies,  and  determined  Enemies  to 
us. 

I  knew  that  my  cafe  was  defperate,  but  the  more 
I  reflected  on  my  weaknefs  the  more  I  was  pleafed 
with  the  Enterprize.  Joined  by  a  few  Kentuckyans 
under  Col°.  Montgomery  to  ftop  the  defertion  I  knew 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  27 

would  enfue  on  the  Troops  knowing  their  Deftina- 
tion,  I  had  Encamped  on  a  fmall  Ifland  in  the  middle 
of  the  Falls,  kept  ftrict  Guards  on  the  Boats,  but 
Lieutenant  Hutchings,  of  Dillard's  Compy,  contrived 
to  make  his  efcape  with  his  party  after  being  re- 
fufed  leave  to  return,  luckely  a  few  of  his  Men  was 
taken  the  next  day  by  a  party  fent  after  them; 
on  this  Ifland  I  firft  began  to  difcipline  my  little 
Army  knowing  that  to  be  the  moft  eflential  point 
towards  fuccefs,  moft  of  them  determined  to  fol- 
low me,  the  reft  feeing  no  probability  of  making 
their  efcape  I  foon  got  that  fubordination  as  I  could 
wifh  for ;  about  twenty  families  that  had  followed 
me  much  againft  my  Inclination  I  found  now  to  be 
of  fervice  to  me  in  guarding  a  Block-houfe  that  I 
had  creeled  on  the  Ifland  to  fecure  my  Provifions.* 


*  There  was  at  this  time  no  settlement  at  the  Falls, 
though  two  thousand  acres  of  the  plain  on  which  Louisville 
is  built,  had  been  patented  on  i6th  of  December,  1773,  by 
John  Connelly,  a  surgeon's  mate  in  the  British  service.  M'- 
Murtrie  gives  the  names  of  five  of  those  who  accompanied 
Clark  and  were  left  on  Corn  Island,  James  Patton,  Rd.  Chen- 
owith,  John  Tuel,  Wm.  Faith,  and  J.  McManness.  After 
Clark's  departure,  they  removed  to  the  main  land,  commenced 
clearings,  and  erected  cabins.  Other  emigrants  arrived  in  the 
spring  of  1779.  The  town  of  Louisville  was  first  laid  out 
in  1780,  by  William  Pope.  See  M'Murtries  and  Casseday's 
Histories  of  Louisville. 


2  8  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

I  got  every  thing  in  Readinefs  on  the  26th  of  June, 
fet  off  from  the  Falls,  double  Man'd  our  Oars 
and  proceeded  day  and  night  until  we  ran  into  the 
mouth  of  the  Tenefse  River  the  fourth  day  landed 
on  an  Ifland  to  prepare  ourfelves  for  a  March  by 
Land;  a  few  hours  after  we  took  a  Boat  of  Hunters 
but  eight  days  from  Kafkafkias;  before  I  would  fuffer 
them  to  anfwer  any  Perfon  a  queftion,  after  their 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  I  examined  them  par- 
ticularly, they  were  Englishmen,  &  appear'd  to  be 
in  our  Intereft,  their  intiligence  was  not  favour- 
able, they  afked  leave  to  go  on  the  Expedition,  I 
granted  it,  and  ordered  them  what  to  relate  partic- 
ularly, on  pain  of  Suffering,  they  obferved  my  in- 
ftructions  which  put  the  whole  in  the  greateft  fpir- 
its ;  Sure  by  what  they  heard  of  fuccefs,  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  fame  day  I  ran  my  Boats  into  a  fmall 
Creek  about  one  mile  above  the  old  Fort  MifTack  ;* 


*  The  French  commander  who  evacuted  Fort  Duquesne  in 
October,  1758,  on  the  approach  of  General  Forbes,  descended 
the  Ohio  river  and  "  made  a  halt  about  forty  miles  from  the 
mouth,  and,  on  a  beautiful  eminence  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river,  commenced  a  fort,  and  left  a  detachment  of  one  hundred 
men  as  a  garrison.  The  post  was  called  '  Fort  Massac,'  in 
honor  of  the  commander,  M.  Massac,  who  superintended  its 
construction.  This  was  the  last  fort  erected  by  the  French  on 
the  Ohio,  and  it  was  occupied  by  a  garrison  of  French  troops 
until  the  evacuation  of  the  country  under  the  stipulations  of  the 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  29 

Repofed  our  felves  for  the  night,  and  in  the  morning 
took  a  Rout  to  the  Northweft,  and  had  a  very  fa- 
tiegueing  Journey  for  about  fifty  miles,  until  we  came 
into  thofe  level  Plains  that  is  frequent  throughout 
this  extenfive  Country.  As  I  knew  my  Succefs  de- 
pended on  fecrecy,  I  was  much  afraid  of  being  dif- 
covered  in  thefe  Meadows  as  we  might  be  feen  in 
many  places  for  feveral  miles;  nothing  extraordinary 
happened  dureing  our  Route  Excepting  my  guide* 
loofeing  himfelf  and  not  being  able,  as  we  judged 
by  his  confufion  of  giving  a  Juft  account  of  himfelf; 
It  put  the  whole  Troops  in  the  greateft  Confufion. 
I  never  in  my  life  felt  fuch  a  flow  of  Rage  to  be  wan- 
dering in  a  Country  where  every  Nation  of  Indians 
could  raife  three,  or  four  times  our  Number,  and  a 
certain  lofs  of  our  enterprife  by  the  Enemie's  getting 
timely  notice.  I  could  not  bear  the  thoughts  of 
returning;  in  fhort  every  idea  of  the  fort  put  me 
in  that  paflion  that  I  did  not  matter  for  fome  time; 
but  in  a  fhort  time  after  our  circumflance  had  a 
better  appearance,  for  I  was  in  a  moment  determined 
to  put  the  guide^  to  Death  if  he  did  not  find  his  way 


treaty  of  Paris.  Such  was  the  origin  of  Fort  Massac,  divested 
of  the  romance  which  fable  has  thrown  around  its  name." 
Monette's  History  of  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  Vol.  I,  />. 

3I7- 

*  John  Saunders.     Butler's  Kentucky,  p.  52. 


jo  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

that  Evening;  I  told  him  his  doom,  the  poor  fellow 
feared  almoft  out  of  his  wits,  begged  that  I  would 
ftay  a  while  where  I  was  and  fuffer  him  to  go  and 
make  fome  difcovery  of  a  Road  that  could  not  be  far 
from  us,  which  I  would  not  fuffer  for  fear  of  not 
feeing  him  again,  but  ordered  him  to  lead  on  the 
party,  that  his  fate  depended  on  his  fuccefs;  after 
fome  little  paufe  he  begged  that  I  would  not  be 
hard  with  him,  that  he  could  find  the  Path  that 
Evening.  He  accordingly  took  his  courfe,  and  in 
two  hours  got  within  his  knowledge. 

On  the  Evening  of  the  4th  of  July,  we  got  within 
three  miles  of  the  Town  Kafkafkias,*  having  a  River 
of  the  fame  name  to  crofs  to  the  Town ;  After 
making  ourfelves  ready  for  anything  that  might  hap- 
pen, we  marched  after  night  to  a  Farm  that  was  on 
the  fame  fide  of  the  River  about  a  mile  above  the 
Town,  took  the  family  Prifoners,  &  found  plenty  of 
Boats  to  Crofs  in;  and  in  two  hours  Tranfported 
ourfelves  to  the  other  more  with  the  greateft  filence. 
I  learned  that  they  had  fome  fufpicean  of  being  at- 
tacted  and  had  made  fome  preparations,  keeping  out 


*  Kaskaskia,  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Kaskaskia  river, 
about  seven  miles  from  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  was 
settled  by  the  early  French  explorers  a  few  years  after  the  visit 
of  La  Salle,  in  1683,  and  was  the  capital  of  the  Illinois  country 
during  its  occupancy  by  the  French. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  31 

Spies,  but  they  making  no  difcoveries,  had  got  off 
their  Guard,  j  immediately  divided  my  little  Army 
into  two  Divifions,  ordered  one  to  furround  the  Town, 
with  the  other  I  broke  into  the  Fort,  fecured  the 
Governour,  Mr.  Rochblave  in  15  minutes  had  every 
Street  fecured,  fent  Runners  through  the  Town  order- 
ing the  People  on  pane  of  Death  to  keep  clofe  to 
their  Houfes,  which  they  obferv'd,  and  before  daylight 
had  the  whole  town  difarmed ;  nothing  could  excell 
the  Confuiion  thefe  People  feemed  to  be  in,  being 
taught  to  expect  nothing  but  Savage  treatment  from 
the  Americans.  Giving  all  for  loft  their  Lives  were 
all  they  could  dare  beg  for,  which  they  did  with  the 
greateft  fervancy,  they  were  willing  to  be  Slaves  to 
fave  their  Families.  I  told  them  it  did  not  fuit  me 
to  give  them  an  anfwer  at  that  time,  they  repared  to 
their  houfes,  trembling  as  if  they  were  led  to  Exe- 
cution; my  principal  would  not  fuffer  me  to  diftrefs 
fuch  a  number  of  People,  except,  through  policy  it 
was  neceflary;  A  little  reflection  convinced  me  that 
it  was  my  Intereft  to  Attach  them  to  me,  according 
to  my  firft  Plan;  for  the  Town  of  Cohos*  &  St. 
Vincents,  f  and  the  numerous  Tribes  of  Indians 


*  Cahokia,  an  old  French  village,  situated  in  the  American 
Bottom  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  a  few  miles  below  St. 
Louis,  and  about  sixty  miles  by  the  river  above  Kaskaskia. 

f  Now  the  town  of  Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash  river,  about 


3  2  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

attached  to  the  French  was  yet  to  enfluence,  for  I  was 
too  weak  to  treat  them  any  other  way.  I  fent  for  all 
the  Principal  Men  of  the  Town  who  came  in  as  if  to 
a  Tribunal  that  was  to  determine  their  fate  forever, 
Curfing  their  fortune  that  they  were  not  apprifed  of  us 
time  enough  to  have  defended  themfelves ;  I  told 
them  that  I  was  forry  to  find  that  they  had  been 
taught  to  harbour  fo  bafe  an  oppinion  of  the  Ameri- 
cans and  their  Caufe :  Explain'd  the  nature  of  the  dif- 
pute  to  them  in  as  clear  a  light  as  I  was  capable  of, 
it  was  certain  that  they  were  a  Conquered  People,  and 
by  the  fate  of  War  was  at  my  mercy  and  that  our  Prin- 
cipal was  to  make  thofe  we  Reduced  free  infted  of  en- 
flaving  them  as  they  immagined,  that  if  I  could  have 
furety  of  their  Zeal  and  Attachment  to  the  American 
Caufe,  they  mould  immediately  enjoy  all  the  priviledges 
of  our  Government,  and  their  property  fecured  to 
them,  that  it  was  only  to  flop  the  farther  effufion  of 
Innocent  Blood  by  the  Savages  under  the  influence  of 


one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  its  mouth.  The  Indian 
village  at  that  point  was  called  Chip-kaw-kay.  The  French 
post  was  variously  designated,  by  early  writers,  Post  Vincennes, 
Post  Vincent,  St.  Vincents,  and  Au  Poste.  The  fort  was 
called  by  the  English,  Fort  Sackville.  The  name  Vincennes 
was  undoubtedly  derived  from  Francois  Morgan  de  Vinsenne, 
who  was  commandant  at  the  post  in  1735. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  33 

their  Governour,  that  made  them  an  object  of  our  at- 
tention, &c. 

No  fooner  had  they  heard  this  than  joy  fparkled 
in  their  Eyes  and  (they)  fell  into  Tranfports  of  Joy 
that  really  furprifed  me ;  as  foon  as  they  were  a  little 
moderated  they  told  me  that  they  had  always  been  kept 
in  the  dark  as  to  the  difpute  between  America  &  Britain 
that  they  had  never  heard  any  thing  before  but  what 
was  prejuditial  and  tended  to  infence  them  againft  the 
Americans,  that  they  were  now  convinced  that  it  was 
a  Caufe  that  they  ought  to  Efpoufe;  that  they  mould 
be  happy  of  an  oppertunity  to  convince  me  of  their 
Zeal,  and  think  themfelves  the  happyeft  People  in  the 
World  if  they  were  united  with  the  Americans,  and 
beg'd  that  I  would  receive  what  they  faid  as  their  real 
fentiments :  in  order  to  be  more  certain  of  their  fin- 
cerity,  I  told  them  that  an  Oath  of  fedility  was  re- 
quired from  the  Citizens  and  to  give  them  time  to 
reflect  on  it,  I  mould  not  Adminifter  it  for  a  few  days, 
in  the  meantime  any  of  them  that  chofe,  was  at  liberty 
to  leave  the  Country  with  their  families,  except  two 
or  three  particular  Perfons,  that  they  might  repair  to 
their  families  and  conduct  themfelves  as  ufial,  without 
any  dread.  The  Prieft,*  that  had  lately  come  from 


*  The  name  of  this  priest  was  Pierre  Gibault,  though  Clark, 
with  his  characteristic  inaccuracy  in  spelling  proper  names, 
calls  him  Jeboth^  as  will  be  hereafter  seen.  Judge  Law,  in  his 


34  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Canada  had  made  himfelf  a  little  acquainted  with  our 
difpute,  (Contrary  to  the  principal  of  his  Brother  in 
Canada)  was  rather  prejudiced  in  favor  of  us.  He 
afked  if  I  would  give  him  liberty  to  perform  his  duty 
in  his  Church  I  told  him  that  I  had  nothing  to  do 
with  Churches  more  than  to  defend  them  from  Infult. 
That  by  the  laws  of  the  State  his  Religion  had  as 
great  Previledges  as  any  other:  This  feem'd  to  com- 
pleat  their  happinefs.  They  returned  to  their  families, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  fcean  of  mourning  and  dif- 
trefs,  was  turned  to  an  excefs  of  Joy,  nothing  elfe  feen 
nor  heard.  Addorning  the  ftreets  with  flowers  &  Pa- 
vilians  of  different  colours,  compleating  their  happinefs 
by  finging,  &c.  In  mean  time  I  prepar'd  a  Detach- 
ment on  Horfeback,  under  Cap1  Bowman,  to  make  a 
Defcent  on  Cohos,  about  fixty  miles  up  the  Coun- 
try; the  Inhabitants  told  me  that  one  of  their  Towns- 
men was  enough  to  put  me  in  pofleffion  of  that  place, 
by  carrying  the  good  news  that  the  People  would  re- 
joice, however  I  did  not  altogether  chufe  to  truft 
them,  difpatched  the  Captain,  Attended  by  a  confider- 
able  number  of  the  Inhabittants  who  got  into  the 

"  Colonial  History  of  Vincennes"  gives  an  interesting  sketch  of 
this  good  man,  to  whom,  he  says,  "  next  to  Clark  and  Vigo,  the 
United  States  are  indebted  for  the  accession  of  the  States  com- 
prised in  what  was  the  original  North-Western  Territory,  than 
to  any  other  man." 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  35 

middle  of  the  Town  before  they  were  difcovered ;  the 
French  Gentlemen  Calling  aloud  to  the  People  to  fub- 
mit  to  their  happier  fate,  which  they  did  with  very 
little  hefitation:  A  number  of  Indians  being  in  Town, 
on  hearing  of  the  Big  Knives,  immediately  made  their 
Efcape;  In  a  few  days  the  Inhabittants  of  the  Coun- 
try took  the  Oath  fubfcribed  by  law  and  every  Perfon 
appeared  to  be  happy ;  Our  friends  the  Spanyards, 
doing  every  thing  in  their  power  to  convince  me  of 
their  friendfhip,  a  Correfpondance  immediately  com- 
menced between  the  Governour  and  myfelf.  Poft  St. 
Vincent,  a  Town  about  the  fize  of  Williamfburg  was  the 
next  Object  in  my  view;  as  the  whole  was  apprif'd  of 
me,  I  was  by  no  means  able  to  march  againft  it,  (their 
Governour  a  few  months  before  going  to  Detroyet,) 
I  was  refolved  if  poflible  to  win  their  affection  which  I 
thought  myfelf  in  a  fair  way  of  doing  more  fully  to 
know  the  fentiments  of  the  Inhabittants  about  there; 
And  to  execute  my  Plans  I  pretended  that  I  was  about 
to  fend  an  Exprefs  to  the  falls  of  Ohio  for  a  Body  of 
Troops  to  Join  me  at  a  certain  place,  in  order  to  attact 
it;  it  foon  had  the  defired  effect.  Advocates  immediately 
appear'd  among  the  people  in  their  behalf.  Mr.  Jeboth, 
the  Prieft,  to  fully  convince  me  of  his  Attachment 
offered  to  undertake  to  win  that  Town  for  me  if  I 
would  permit  him  and  let  a  few  of  them  go;  they 
made  no  doubt  of  gaining  their  friends  at  St.  Vincents 
to  my  Intereft;  the  Prieft  told  me  he  would  go  him- 


3  6  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

felf,  and  gave  me  to  underfland,  that  although  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  temporal  bufinefs,  that  he  would 
give  them  fuch  hints  in  the  Spiritual  way,  that  would  be 
very  conducive  to  the  bufinefs. 

In  a  few  days  the  Prieft  and  Doctr  Lefont,  the 
Principal,  with  a  few  others  fet  out,  and  a  Proclamation 
I  fent,  for  that  purpofe,  and  other  inftructions  in  cafe  of 
fuccefs.  In  a  few  weeks  they  returned  with  intiligence 
agreable  to  my  wifhes.  I  now  found  myfelf  in  pos- 
feflion  of  the  whole,  in  a  Country  where  I  found  I 
could  do  more  real  fervice  than  I  expected,  which  occa- 
tioned  my  fituation  to  be  the  more  difagreable  as  I 
wanted  Men. 

The  greateft  part  of  my  Men  was  for  returning, 
as  they  were  no  longer  Ingaged,  furrounded  by  numer- 
ous Nations  of  Savages,  whofe  minds  had  been  long 
poifoned  by  the  Englifh,  It  was  with  difficulty 
that  I  could  fupport  that  Dignity  that  was  neces- 
fary  to  give  my  orders  that  force  that  was  neceflary, 
but  by  great  preafents  and  promifes  I  got  about 
one  hundred  of  my  Detachment  Enlifted  for  eight 
months,  and  to  colour  my  flaying  with  fo  few  Troops, 
I  made  a  faint  of  returning  to  the  Falls,  as  though 
I  had  fufficient  confidence  in  the  People,  hoping  that 
the  Inhabitants  would  remonflrate  againft  my  leaving 
them,  which  they  did  in  the  warmefl  terms,  proving 
the  neceffity  of  the  Troops  at  that  place,  that  they 
were  affraid  if  I  returned  the  Englifh  would  again  pos-r 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  37 

fefs  the  Country.  Then  feemingly  by  their  requeft  I 
agreed  to  ftay  with  two  Companies  of  Troops,  and  that 
I  hardly  thought,  as  they  alledg'd  that  fo  many  was 
neceflary ;  but  if  more  was  wanted  I  could  get  them  at 
any  time  from  the  Falls,  where  they  were  made  to  be- 
lieve was  a  Confiderable  Garriffon.  As  foon  as  poflible 
I  fent  off  thofe  that  could  not  be  got  to  ftay,  with  Mr. 
Rochblanch,*  and  Letters  to  his  Excellency  letting  him 
know  my  fituation  and  the  neceflity  of  Troops  in  the 
Country.  Many  of  the  French  fond  of  the  fervice,  the 
different  Companies  foon  got  Compleat.  I  ftationed 
Capt.  Bowman  at  Cohos,  Capt.  Helms  Comd  at  St. 
Vincents  Superintendant  &c.  Domeftick  affairs  being 
partly  well  fettled  the  Indian  Department  came  next  the 
object  of  my  attention  and  of  the  greateft  importance, 
my  fudden  appearance  in  their  Country  put  them  un- 
der the  greateft  confternation,  they  was  generally  at  War 


*Col.  Clark  was  inclined  to  treat  Mr.  Rocheblave,  the  Brit- 
ish commander,  leniently,  and  to  restore  to  him  his  slaves  that 
had  been  seized  as  public  plunder.  He  invited  him  to  dine  with 
himself  and  officers,  with  the  intention  of  restoring  them  ;  but 
the  violent  and  insulting  language  of  Mr.  Rocheblave  on  this 
occasion,  entirely  frustrated  Clark's  benevolent  designs.  The 
slaves  were  afterward  sold  for  five  hundred  pounds  which  was 
distributed  among  the  troops  for  prize  money. 

In  September,  1780,  Gov.  Jefferson,  in  a  letter  to  General 
Washington,  mentions  a  "Lieutenant  Governor  Rocheblave 
who  has  broken  his  parole  and  gone  to  New  York."  Jefferson's 
Works,  vol.  i,  p.  258. 


38  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

againft  us,  but  the  French  and  Spainyards  appearing 
fo  fond  of  us  confufed  them,  they  counciled  with  the 
French  Traders,  to  know  what  was  beft  to  be  done, 
and  of  courfe  was  advifed  to  come  and  felicit  for  peace, 
and  did  not  doubt  but  we  might  be  good  Friends ;  it 
may  appear  otherwife  to  You,  but  (/)  always  thought  we 
took  the  wrong  method  of  treating  with  Indians,  and 
ftrove  as  foon  as  poffible  to  make  myfelf  acquainted 
with  the  French  and  Spanifh  mode  which  muft  be 
prefferable  to  ours,  otherwife  they  could  not  poffibly 
have  fuch  great  influence  among  them ;  when  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  it,  (//)  exactly  coinfided  with  my  own 
idea,  and  (/)  refolved  to  follow  that  fame  Rule  as 
near  as  Circumftances  would  permit,  the  Kafkafkias 
Peoreanas  &  Mechegames  immediately  treated  for 
peace;  I  fent  letters  and  fpeaches  by  Cap*.  Helms 
to  the  chief  of  the  Kickebues  and  Peankefhaws  re- 
fiding  at  Poft  St.  Vincents  defireing  them  to  lay  down 
their  Tomahawk,  and  if  they  did  not  chufe  it,  to  be- 
have like  Men  and  fight  for  the  Englim  as  they  had 
done,  but  they  would  fee  their  great  father  as  they 
called  him  given  to  the  Dogs  to  eat.  (gave  Harm 
language  to  fupply  the  want  of  Men;  well  knowing 
that  it  was  a  miftaken  notion  in  many  that  foft 
fpeeches  was  beft  for  Indians)  But  if  they  thought  of 
giving  their  hands  to  the  Big  Knives  to  give  their 
Hearts  alfo,  and  that  I  did  not  doubt  but  after  being 
acquainted,  that  they  would  find  that  the  Big  Knives 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  39 

(were}  of  better  Principals  than  what  the  bad  Birds,  the 
Englifh  had  taught  them  to  believe.  They  received  the 
fpeeches  from  the  Cap1,  with  another  of  his  own,  and 
after  fome  Confutation  they  refolved  to  take  the  Big 
Knives  by  the  hand  and  came  to  a  conclufion  of 
Peace,  And  faid  the  Americans  muft  be  Warriers  and 
no  deceivers,  or  they  would  never  have  fpoke  as  they 
did ;  that  they  liked  fuch  People,  and  that  the  Englifh 
was  Liers  and  they  would  liften  to  them  no  longer; 
that  by  what  they  had  heard  the  Big  Knives,  The 
Indians  had  as  great  a  right  to  fight  the  Englifh 
as  they  had,  that  they  was  convinced  that  it  was  the 
truth.  What  they  here  alluded  to  was,  part  of  the 
fpeech  that  I  had  fent  to  them,  explaining  to  them  the 
nature  of  the  War  in  the  following  manner :  That 
a  great  many  Years  ago,  our  forefathers  lived  in 
England,  but  the  King  opprefed  them  in  fuch  a 
manner  that  they  were  obliged  to  Crofs  the  great 
Waters  to  get  out  of  his  way.  But  he  not  being  fatis- 
fied  to  loofe  fo  many  fubjects  fent  Governours  and 
Soldiers  among  them  to  make  them  obey  his  Laws, 
but  told  his  Governours  to  treat  them  well  and  to  take 
but  little  from  them  until  they  grew  Populus,  that 
then  they  would  be  able  to  pay  a  great  deal ;  By  the 
good  treatment  we  got,  we  grew  to  be  a  great  Peo- 
ple and  flourifhed  faft.  The  King  then  wrote  to  his 
Governour  &  Officers  that  we  had  got  Rich  and  nu- 
merous enough,  that  it  was  time  to  make  us  pay  tri- 


40  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

bute,  that  he  did  not  care  how  much  they  took,  fo  as 
they  left  us  enough  to  eat,  and  that  he  had  fent  them  a 
great  many  Soldiers  to  make  the  Americans  pay  if 
they  refufed,  that  when  they  had  made  the  Americans 
do  as  they  pleafed,  they  would  then  make  the  Indians 
pay  likewife ;  But  for  fear  the  Indians  mould  find  it 
out  by  the  Big  Knives,  that  the  Englifh  intended  to 
make  them  alfo  pay,  &  mould  get  mad  with  the  Eng- 
lifh for  their  treatment  of  their  Neighbours  the  Big 
Knives,  that  they,  his  Governours  mould  make  us 
quarrel,  &c.  We  bore  their  Taxes  for  many  Years, 
at  laft  they  were  fo  hard  that  if  we  killed  a  Deer  they 
would  take  the  Skin  away  and  leave  us  the  Meat, 
and  made  us  buy  Blankets  with  Corn  to  fead  their 
Soldiers  with.  By  fuch  ufage  we  got  Poor  and  was 
obliged  to  go  naked  ;  And  at  laft  we  complained.  The 
King  got  mad  and  made  his  Soldiers  Kill  fome  of  our 
People  and  Burn  fome  of  our  Villages.  The  Old  Men 
then  held  a  great  Council  and  made  the  Tomahawk 
very  Iharp  and  put  it  into  the  hand  of  the  Young 
Men,  told  them  to  be  ftrong  &  Strike  the  Englifh 
as  long  as  they  could  find  one  on  this  Ifland.  They 
immediately  ftruck  and  Killed  a  great  many  of  the 
Englifh.  The  French  King  hearing  of  it  fent  to  the 
Americans  and  told  them  to  be  ftrong  and  fight  the 
Englifh  like  Men,  that  if  they  wanted  help  or  Tom- 
ahawks he  would  furnifh  them,  &c.,  &c. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  41 

This  fpeech  had  a  greater  effect  than  I  could  have 
immagined,  and  did  more  fervice  than  a  Regiment  of 
Men  cou'd  have  done. 

It  was  with  aftonifhment  that  (we)  viewed  the 
Amazeing  number  of  Savages  that  foon  flocked  into  the 
Town  of  Cohos  to  treat  for  peace,  and  to  hear  what 
the  Big  Knives  had  to  fay,  many  of  them  500  miles 
diftant,  Chipoways,  Ottoways,  Petawatomies,  Miflefo- 
gies,  Puans,  Sacks,  Foxes,  Sayges,  Tauways,  Maw- 
mies  and  a  number  of  other  Nations,  all  living  eaft 
of  the  Mefficippa,  and  many  of  them  at  War  againft 
us.  I  muft  confefs  that  I  was  under  fome  apprehention 
among  fuch  a  number  of  Devils,  and  it  proved  to  be 
juft  for  the  fecond  or  third  night,  a  party  of  Puans  & 
others  endeavoured  to  force  by  the  Guards  into  my 
Lodgings  to  Bear  me  off;  but  was  happily  Detected  and 
made  Prisoners  by  the  elacrity  of  the  Sergent.  The 
Town  took  the  alarm  and  was  immediately  under  Arms, 
which  convinced  the  Savages  that  the  French  were  in 
our  Intereft. 

I  was  determined  to  follow  the  Principal  that  I 
had  fet  out  upon,  let  the  confequence  be  what  it 
would.  I  immediately  ordered  the  Chiefs  to  be  put  in 
Irons  by  the  French  Militia.  They  infilled  that  it  was 
only  to  fee  whether  the  French  would  take  part  with 
the  Americans  or  not,  that  they  had  no  ill  Defign ;  this 
treatment  of  fome  of  the  greateft  Chiefs  among  them 
occationed  great  confufion  among  the  reft  of  the  Sav- 


42  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

ages.  The  Prifoners,  with  great  fubmiffion,  celicited 
to  fpeak  to  me,  but  was  refufed.  They  then  made  all 
the  intereft  they  poffibly  could  amongft  the  other 
Indians,  (who  was  much  at  a  lofs  what  to  do  as 
there  was  Strong  Guards  through  every  quarter  of  the 
Town),  to  get  to  fpeak  to  me;  but  I  told  the  whole 
that  I  believed  they  were  a  fet  of  Villians,  that  they 
had  Joined  the  Englim,  and  they  were  welcome  to  con- 
tinue in  the  Caufe  they  had  efpoufed,  that  I  was  a 
Man  and  a  Warrier,  that  I  did  not  care  who  was  my 
Friends  or  Foes ;  and  had  no  more  to  fay  to  them  : 
Such  conduct  Alarmed  the  whole  Town :  but  I  was 
fenfible  that  it  would  gain  us  no  more  Enemies  than 
we  had  already,  and  if  they  after  felicited  for  terms, 
that  it  would  be  more  fmcere,  and  probably  have  a 
lafting  good  effect  on  the  Indian  Nations  ;  diftruft 
was  vifible  in  the  Countenance  of  almoft  every  Perfon 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  day.  To  mew  the 
Indians  that  I  difregarded  them,  I  remained  in  my 
Lodging  in  the  Town,  about  one  hundred  Yards 
from  the  Fort  feemingly  without  a  Guard,  but  I 
kept  about  fifty  Men  conceiled  in  a  Parlour  adjoin- 
ing, and  the  Garrifon  under  Arms;  there  was  great 
Counciling  among  the  Savages  dureing  the  Night. 
But  to  make  them  have  the  greater  idea  of  my 
Indifferency  about  them,  I  aflembled  a  Number  of 
Gentlemen  &  Ladies,  and  danced  nearly  the  whole 
Night.  In  the  morning  I  fummoned  the  different 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  43 

Nations  to  a  grand  Council,  and  the  Chiefs  under 
guard  (were)  releafed,  and  invited  to  Council,  that  I 
might  fpeak  to  them  in  the  prefence  of  the  whole. 
After  the  common  Cerimonies  was  over,  I  produced 
a  Bloody  Belt  of  wampom,  and  fpoke  to  them  in  the 
following  manner :  I  told  the  Chief  that  was  Guilty, 
that  I  was  fencible  their  Nation  was  engaged  in 
favour  of  the  Englifh,  and  if  they  thought  it  right, 
I  did  not  blame  them  for  it,  and  exhorted  them  to 
behave  like  Men  and  fupport  the  Caufe  they  had 
undertaken;  that  I  was  fenfible  that  the  Englifh  was 
weak  and  wanted  help ;  that  I  fcorned  to  take  any 
advantage  of  them  by  Perfuading  their  friends  to 
defert  them ;  that  there  was  no  people  but  Americans, 
but  would  put  them  to  death  for  their  late  behaviour ; 
That  it  convinced  me  of  their  being  my  Enemies.  But 
it  was  beneath  the  Character  of  Americans  to  take  fuch 
revenge,  that  they  were  at  their  Liberty  to  do  as  they 
pleaf'd,  But  to  behave  like  Men,  and  not  do  any 
mifchief  until  three  days  after  they  left  the  town, 
that  I  mould  have  them  efcorted  fafe  out  of  the  Vil- 
lage, and  after  that  expiration  of  time,  if  they  did  not 
choofe  to  return  and  fight  me,  they  might  find  Ameri- 
cans enough  by  going  farther.  That  if  they  did  not  want 
their  own  Women  and  Children  mafTecred,  they  muft 
leave  off  killing  ours  and  only  fight  Men  under  Arms, 
which  was  commendable ;  that  there  was  the  War  Belt, 
We  mould  foon  fee  which  of  us  would  make  it  the  moft 


44  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Bloody,  &c.  Then  told  them  that  it  was  cuftomary 
among  all  Brave  Men  to  treat  their  Enemies  well  when 
aflembled  as  we  were,  that  I  mould  give  them  Provi- 
fions  &  Rum  while  they  ftaid,  but  by  their  behaviour 
I  could  not  conceive  that  they  deferved  that  appella- 
tion, and  I  did  not  care  how  foon  they  left  me  after 
that  day.  I  obferved  that  their  Countenances  and  atti- 
tude favoured  my  real  defign ;  the  whole  looked  like 
a  parcel  of  Criminals.  The  other  Nations  rofe  and 
made  many  fubmiflive  Speeches  excufing  themfelves  for 
their  conduct  in  a  very  pretty  manner,  and  (there  was] 
fomething  noble  in  their  fentiments  (their  talk  I 
inclofe),  they  alledged  that  they  were  perfuaded  to 
War  by  the  Englifh,  and  made  to  harbour  a  wrong 
oppinion  of  the  Americans,  but  they  now  believed  them 
to  be  Men  and  Warriers,  and  could  wifh  to  take  them 
by  the  hand  as  Brothers ;  that  they  did  not  fpeak  from 
their  lips  only,  but  that  I  mould  hereafter  find  that  they 
fpoke  from  their  Hearts,  and  that  they  hoped  I  would 
pitty  their  blindnefs  and  their  Women  and  Children  ; 
and  alfo  filicited  for  their  Friends  that  had  been  Guilty 
of  the  late  crime.  I  told  them  that  I  had  inftruclions 
from  the  Great  Man  of  the  Big  Knives  not  to  afk 
Peace  from  any  People  but  to  offer  Peace  and  War, 
and  let  them  take  their  Choice,  except  a  few  of  the 
worft  Nation  to  whom  I  was  to  grant  no  Peace,  for 
as  the  Englifh  could  fight  us  no  longer  he  was  affraid 
our  Young  Warriers  would  get  rufty  without  they 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  45 

could  get  fomebody  to  fight,  &c.  I  prefented  them 
with  a  Peace  &  War  Belt,  and  told  them  to  take  their 
choice  excepting  thofe  who  had  been  Imprifoned.  they, 
with  a  great  deal  of  feeming  Joy  took  the  Belt  of  Peace. 
I  told  them  I  would  defer  Smokeing  the  Peace  Pipe 
until  I  heard  that  they  had  called  in  all  their  Warriers, 
and  then  we  would  conclude  the  Treaty  with  all  the 
Ceremony  necefTary  for  fo  important  Occafion.  they 
immediately  felicited  for  fome  Perfons  to  go  with  them 
to  be  witnefs  of  their  Conduct,  and  hoped  that  I 
would  favour  their  Guilty  Friends,  which  I  refufed; 
and  was  pleafed  to  fee  them  fet  trembling  as  Per- 
fons frightned  at  the  apprehenfion  of  the  worft  fate. 
Their  fpeaker  then  rofe  and  made  a  moft  lament- 
able fpeach,  fuch  as  I  could  have  wifhed  for:  Beg- 
ing  Mercy  for  their  Women  and  Children:  for  the 
French  Gentlemen  whom  they  put  the  greateft  confi- 
dence in  had  given  them  leflbns  that  favour'd  my 
Purpofe:  I  recommended  it  to  them  to  go  to  their 
father  the  Engliih,  as  he  had  told  them  that  he  was 
Strong  perhaps  he  might  help  them  as  he  had  promifed; 
that  they  could  blame  no  Perfon  but  themfelves  when 
their  Nation  mould  be  given  with  the  Englifh  to 
the  Dogs  to  eat.  When  they  had  tried  their  Ello- 
quence  to  no  purpofe,  they  pitched  on  two  Young 
Men  for  to  be  put  to  death  as  an  attonement  for 
the  reft  hoping  that  would  paflify  me;  It  would 
have  furprifed  You  to  have  feen  how  fubmiflively 


46  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

thofe  two  Young  Men  prefented  themfelves  for  Death, 
advancing  into  the  middle  of  the  floor,  fetting  down 
by  each  other  and  covering  their  heads  with  their 
Blankets  to  receive  the  Tomahawk  (Peace  was  what  I 
wanted  with  them,  if  I  got  it  on  my  own  terms.)  but 
this  ftroke  Prejudiced  me  in  their  favour,  and  for  a  few 
moments  (/)  was  fo  adjutated  that  I  dont  doubt  but  that 
I  mould  without  reflection  (have)  killed  the  firft  man 
that  would  have  offered  to  have  offered  to  have  hurt 
them ;  My  wifhes  reflecting  this  Treaty  were  now 
compleat;  And  I  fince  find  no  room  to  blame  my- 
felf  for  any  omiflion  in  what  followed  in  the  Treaty ; 
which  time  has  already  proved  the  good  effects  of  it 
throughout  the  Illinois  Country. 

Our  influence  now  began  to  fpread  among  the 
Nations  even  to  the  Border  of  the  Lakes.  I  fent 
Agents  into  every  Quarter.  I  continued  about  five 
weeks  in  the  Town  of  Cohos;  in  which  time  I  had 
fetled  a  Peace  with  ten  or  twelve  different  Nations. 

Being  much  fatiegued,  I  returned  to  Kafkafkias, 
leaving  Major  Bowman  to  act  in  which  he  did  himfelf 
much  Honour.  An  intamacy  had  commenced  between 
Don  Leybrau,*  Lieut.  Governor  of  Weftern  Illinois  and 
myfelf ;  he  omited  nothing  in  his  Power  to  prove  his 
Attachment  to  the  Americans  with  fuch  opennefs  as  left 


*  Don  Francisco  de  Leyba,  Spanish   Lieutenant  Governor 
of  Upper  Louisiana. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  47 

no  room  for  a  doubt ;  as  I  was  never  before  in  compy 
with  any  Spanifh  Gent  I  was  much  furprifed  in  my  ex- 
pectations; for  inftead  of  rinding  that  referve  thought 
peculiar  to  that  Nation,  I  here  faw  not  the  leaft  fymp- 
toms  of  it,  freedom  almoft  to  excefs  gave  the 
greateft  pleafure;  at  my  return  to  Kafkaikias  I  found 
everything .  as  well  as  I  could  have  expected.  Having 
fo  far  fixed  matters  as  to  have  a  moment's  Leafure, 
which  was  taken  up  with  deeper  Reflections  than  I  ever 
before  was  Acquainted  with.  My  fituation  and  week- 
nefs  convinced  me  that  more  depended  on  my  own 
Behaviour  and  Conduct,  than  all  the  Troops  that  I  had 
far  removed  from  the  Body  of  my  Country:  fituated 
among  French,  Spanyards,  and  Numerous  Bands  of 
Savages  on  every  quarter:  Watching  my  actions,  ready 
to  receive  impreflions  favourable  or  not  fo  of  us,  which 
might  be  hard  to  remove,  and  would  perhaps  produce 
lafting  good,  or  ill  effects.  It  was  now  that  I  faw  my 
work  was  only  begun,  maturely  examining  every  cir- 
cumftance  of  my  paft  Actions  fixing  fuch  Refolutions, 
that  in  cafe  of  misfortune  or  lofs  of  Intereft,  it  mould 
be  for  want  of  Judgment  only.  Strict  fubordination 
among  the  Troops  was  my  firft  object,  and  (/)  foon 
effected  it.  It  being  a  matter  of  the  greateft  confe- 
quence  to  Perfons  in  our  fituation.  Our  Troops  being 
all  Raw  and  undiflplined  You  muft  (be)  fenfible  of  the 
pleafure  I  felt  when  harangueing  them  on  Perade. 
Telling  them  my  Refolutions,  and  the  neceflity  of 


48  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

ftrict  duty  for  our  own  prefervation,  &c.  For  them  to 
return  me  for  Anfwer,  that  it  was  their  Zeal  for  their 
Country  that  induced  them  to  engage  in  the  Service, 
that  they  were  fencible  of  their  fituation  and  Danger ; 
that  nothing  could  conduce  more  to  their  fafety  and 
happinefs,  than  good  order,  which  they  would  try  to 
adhere  to,  and  hoped  that  no  favour  would  be  fhewn 
thofe  that  would  neglect  it.  In  a  fhort  time  perhaps 
no  GarrifTon  could  boaft  of  better  order,  or  a  more 
Valuable  fet  of  Men.  By  this  time  the  Englifh  party 
at  Detroit,  finding  their  influence  among  the  Savages 
abateing,  fent  out  meflengers  through  the  different 
Nations  as  far  as  they  dare  venture.  Redoubled  their 
Prefents  and  infinuations  to  little  purpofe,  as  I  had  a 
Number  of  Perfons  well  acquainted  with  the  Indians 
fpread  through  the  whole  that  had  treated  with  me,  and 
Spies  continually  in  and  about  Detroit  for  a  confidera- 
ble  time. 

One  of  the  Britim  Agents,  refiding  at  Oueaugh,* 
about  eighty  Leagues  above  St.  Vincents  hurt  our 
Growing  interefts  much,  the  Indians  in  that  quarter 
being  inclin'd  to  defert  the  Britim  Intereft,  but  in 
fome  meafure  kept  from  their  good  intention  by  that 
Perfon.  I  refolved  if  poflible  to  take  him  orF,  and 


•*  Ouatenon,  a  French  settlement  on  the  Wabash,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Wea  (Oueaugh]:  a  short  distance  below  where 
the  town  of  Lafayette  now  stands. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  49 

fent  a  Detachment  of  Men  from  Kafkaikias  under  the 
command  of  Lieu'-  Bailey,  to  join  Cap1-  Helms  at  St. 
Vincents  and  if  poflible  furprife  him ;  the  Cap1,  with 
about  one  hundred  Men  in  number,  part  french  Militia 
and  Indians,  fet  out  by  water.  The  Agent  hearing  of 
it  collected  a  few  Savages  from  the  neighbourhood  that 
he  could  truft  in  order  to  give  Battle  (the  Indians  in 
general  Neutrals)  but  a  few  days  before  the  Captain's 
arrival  Mr.  Celeron  thought  proper  to  make  his  Efcape, 
leaving  his  friendly  Indians  in  the  Fort,  who  being 
Aflembled  in  a  Grand  Council  to  determine  what  was 
beft  to  be  done,  neglecting  to  fhut  the  Gate  or  keep 
Sentinals  (not  fuppofing  the  enemies  to  be  fo  near)  in 
the  hith  of  their  deliberation  Capt.  Helms,  Bayley, 
and  his  fmall  Party  entered  the  Fort  and  ordered 
them  to  furrender  before  they  were  apprif 'd,  About  forty 
in  number  being  made  Prifoners,  the  Cap1  made  a  val- 
uable Treaty;  Gave  them  their  Liberty,  this  ftroke 
compleated  our  Intereft  on  the  Wabache. 

St.  Vincents  being  a  Poft  of  great  Importance, 
and  not  being  able  to  fpare  many  Men  to  Garriflbn  it 
I  took  uncommon  pains  intirely  to  Attach  them  to 
our  Intereft  as  well  as  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Illinois. 
Knowing  no  other  kind  of  Government  than  what 
might  be  expected  from  the  luft  of  Power,  Pride  and 
Avarice  of  the  Officers  Commanding  in  that  Country, 
Whofe  will  was  a  Law  to  the  whole  and  certain  deftruc- 
tion  to  difobey  the  moft  trifleing  Command.  Nothing 


50  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

could  have  been  more  to  my  Advantage,  as  I  could 
temper  the  Government  as  I  pleafed,  and  every  new 
privilidge  appeared  to  them  as  frem  Lawrels  to  the 
American  Caufe. 

I  by  degrees  laid  afide  every  unnecefTary  Re- 
ftriction  they  laboured  under.  As  I  was  convinced 
that  it  was  the  mercinary  views  of  their  former  Gov- 
ernours  that  Eftablifhed  them,  paying  no  regard  to  the 
happinefs  of  the  People,  and  thofe  Cuftoms  Strictly 
obferved  that  was  moil  conducive  to  good  order;  I 
made  it  a  Point  to  guard  the  happinifs  and  Tran- 
quility  of  the  Inhabitants  fuppofing  that  their  happy 
change  reaching  the  ears  of  their  Brothers  and  Coun- 
trymen on  the  Lakes  and  about  Detroit,  would  be 
paving  my  way  to  that  Place;  and  (have]  a  good 
Effect  on  the  Indians.  I  foon  found  it  had  the 
defired  Effect;  for  the  greateft  part  of  the  French 
Gen1  and  Traders  among  the  Indians  declared  for 
us,  many  Letters  of  Congratulation,  (were]  fent  from 
Detroit  to  the  Gene  of  the  Illinois,  which  gave  me 
much  Pleafure. 

I  let  flip  no  oppertunity,  in  Cultivating  our  grow- 
ing Intereft  in  every  Quarter  where  there  was  the  leaft 
appearance  of  a  future  advantage ;  and  had  as  great 
Succefs  as  I  had  any  right  to  expect.  Great  tranquility 
appeared  on  every  countenance,  being  apprehenfive 
that  the  Britifh  Party  at  Detroit  finding  it  hard  to 
regain  their  loft  Intereft  among  the  Savages  would 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark. 


Probably  make  a  Defcent  on  the  Illinois  if  they  found 
themfelves  Capitulated,  for  fear  of  their  finding  out  our 
Numbers,  (parties  of  Men  comeing  &  going  from  Ken- 
tucky and  other  places,  Recruits,  &c.)  I  fuffered  no 
Parrade  except  the  Guards  for  a  confiderable  time,  and 
took  every  other  precaution  to  keep  every  Perfon  igno- 
rant of  our  numbers,  which  was  generally  thought  to 
be  nearly  double  what  we  really  had.  I  found  that 
my  Ideas,  refpecting  the  movement  of  the  Englifh  juft, 
having  certain  Accounts  by  our  Spies  that  Governour 
Hammilton  was  on  his  march  from  Detroit  with  a  Con- 
fiderable Party,  taking  his  Rout  up  the  Meamies  river. 
In  a  few  days  receiving  certain  intiligence  that  General 
Mclntofh  had  left  Pitfburg  for  Detroit  with  a  Confid- 
erable Army.  Knowing  the  weaknefs  of  the  Fortifyca- 
tion  of  that  Poft  at  that  time  their  numbers,  etc.,  I 
made  no  doubt  of  its  being  fhortly  in  our  Pofleflion. 
And  that  Governour  Hambleton,  Senfible  that  there 
was  no  Probability  of  his  defending  the  Fort,  had 
marched  with  his  whole  force  to  encourage  the  Indians 
to  Harrafs  the  General  on  his  March ;  as  the  only 
probable  Plan  to  flop  him,  little  thinking  that  He  had 
returned,  and  that  Mr.  Hambleton  had  the  fame  defign 
on  me,  that  I  fuppofed  he  had  at  General  Mclntofch. 
It  being  near  Chriftmas  we  feafled  ourfelves  with  the 
hopes  of  immediately  hearing  from  Detroit,  and  began 
to  think  that  we  had  been  neglected  in  an  exprefs  not 
being  fent  with  the  Important  news  of  its  being  ours. 


52  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

But  a  circumftance  foon  hapned  that  convinced  us  that 
our  hopes  was  vain.  A  young  man  at  the  Town  of 
Cohos  holding  a  Correfpondance  and  fending  Intili- 
gence  to  Governour  Hambleton's  Party  was  Detected 
&  punifhed  accordingly.  By  which  we  Learned  the 
return  of  General  Mclntofch,  and  Govern1"  Hamble- 
ton's Intentions  on  the  Illinois,  But  not  fo  fully 
exprefled  in  the  latter  as  to  reduce  it  to  a  certainty;  but 
fuppofing  that  in  cafe  of  its  being  true  they  would  make 
their  firft  Defcent  on  Kafkafldas,  It  being  the  ftrongeft 
Garriflbn  and  head  Quarters.  I  kept  Spies  on  all  the 
Roads  to  no  Purpofe  Mr.  Hammilton  having  the 
Advantage  of  Defcending  the  Oubach  and  with  eight 
hundred  Men  French,  Indians  and  Regulars,  took 
pofTeflion  of  Poft  St.  Vincents  on  the  iyth  day  of 
Decemr,*  he  had  Parties  on  the  Road  that  took  fome 

*  When  Governor  Hamilton  entered  Vincennes,  there  were 
but  two  Americans  there — Capt.  Helm,  the  commandant,  and 
one  Henry.  The  latter  had  a  cannon  well  charged,  and  placed 
in  the  open  fort  gate,  while  Helm  stood  by  it  with  a  lighted 
match  in  his  hand.  When  Hamilton  and  his  troops  got  within 
good  hailing  distance,  the  American  officer,  in  a  loud  voice,  cried 
out :  "  Halt !"  This  stopped  the  movements  of  Hamilton,  who, 
in  reply,  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  garrison.  Helm  ex- 
claimed, with  an  oath  :  "  No  man  shall  enter  until  I  know  the 
terms."  Hamilton  answered:  "  You  shall  have  the  honors  of 
war ;"  and  then  the  fort  was  surrendered,  with  its  garrison  of 
one  officer  and  one  man" — Cutler's  History  of  Kentucky,  p.  80. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  53 

of  our  Spies.  Hard  weather  immediately  feting  in  I 
was  at  a  lofs  to  know  what  to  do,  many  fuppofed  that 
he  had  Quit  his  defign  and  came  no  farther  than  Ome.* 
But  no  Intiligence  from  St.  Vincents,  I  was  ftill  under 
fome  doubt  of  his  being  there,  except  the  Comd  had 
kepti  back  the  Exprefs  on  account  of  the  High  waters. 
In  this  fituation  we  remain'd  for  many  Days.  I 
intended  to  evacuate  the  Garriflbn  of  Cohos  in  cafe  of  a 
Siege ;  But  was  anctious  to  have  a  Conferrence  with  the 
Principal  Inhabitants  that  I  knew  to  be  Zealous  in  our 
Intereft,  to  fix  on  certain  Plans  for  their  Conduct  when 
in  poflemon  of  the  Englim,  if  it  mould  be  the  cafe ; 
And  fet  out  on  the  —  day  of  Jan?,  1779,  for  that 
Town,  with  an  Intention  of  flaying  but  a  few  days. 
Mr.  Hammilton  in  mean  time  had  fent  a  party  of  40 
Savages  headed  by  white  Men  from  St.  Vincent  in 
order  if  poflible  to  take  me  Prifoner,  and  gave  fuch 
Inftructions  for  my  treatment  as  did  him  no  dimonour. 
This  party  lay  conceal'd  keeping  a  fmall  Party  near  the 
Road  to  fee  who  PafTed;  they  lay  by  a  fmall  Branch 
about  three  miles  from  Kafkafkias,  there  being  Snow 
on  the  Ground.  I  had  a  Guard  of  about  fix  or  feven 
Men  and  a  few  Gentlemen  in  Chairs,  one  of  them 
fwampt  within  one  hundred  Yards  of  the  Place  where 
thefe  fellows  lay  hid,  where  we  had  to  delay  upwards  of 

*  Omee,  a  corruption  of  Aux  Miamis,  an  Indian  village  at 
the  confluence  of  the  St.  Joseph's  and  St.  Mary's  rivers,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana. 


54  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

an  hour.  I  believe  nothing  here  faved  me,  but  the 
Inftruction  they  had  not  Kill  me,  or  the  fear  of  being 
overpowered,  not  having  an  oppertunity  to  Alarm  the 
main  Body,  (which  lay  half  a  mile  off,)  without  being 
difcovered  themfelves.  We  arrived  fafe  at  the  Town  of 
Lapraryderush,*  about  twelve  miles  above  Kaikafkias. 
The  Gentlemen  &  Laddies  immediately  aflembled  at  a  Ball 
for  our  Entertainment ;  we  fpent  the  fore  part  of  the 
night  very  agreably,  but  about  1 2  o'clock  there  was  a 
very  fudden  change  by  an  Exprefs  Arriving  informing  us 
that  Governour  Hammilton  was  within  three  miles  of 
Kaikafkias  with  eight  hundred  Men,  and  was  deter- 
mined to  attact  the  Fort  that  night;  which  was  expected 
would  be  before  the  Exprefs  got  to  me,  for  it  feems 
that  thofe  fellows  were  difcovered  by  a  hunter  and  after 
miffing  their  aim  on  me,  difcovered  themfelves  to  a 
Party  of  Negroes  and  told  them  a  ftory  as  fuited 
their  Purpofe.  I  never  faw  greater  confufion  among  a 
fmall  AfTembly  than  was  at  that  time,  every  Perfon 
having  their  eyes  on  me,  as  if  my  word  was  to  deter- 
mine their  good  or  Evil  fate.  It  required  but  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation  in  me  to  form  my  Refolution,  Com- 
municated them  to  two  of  my  Officers  who  accompyd 
me,  which  they  Approved  of.  I  ordered  our  Horfes 
Sadled  in  order  if  poffible  to  get  into  the  Fort  before 

*  La  Prairie  du  Rocher,  an  old  French  village,  in  Randolph 
county,  on  the  American  Bottom,  near  the  Rocky  Bluffs,  from 
which  it  derives  its  name,  fourteen  miles  north-west  of  Kaskaskia. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  55 

the  attact  could  be  made.  Thofe  of  the  Company  that 
had  recovered  their  furprife  fo  far  as  to  enable  them  to 
fpeak,  begged  of  me  not  to  attempt  to  Return,  that 
the  Town  was  certainly  in  pofleflion  of  the  Enemy  & 
the  Fort  warmly  attached.  Some  propofed  Conveying 
me  to  the  Spanim  Shore,  fome  one  thing  and  fome 
another.  I  thanked  them  for  the  Care  they  had  of 
my  Perfon,  and  told  them  it  was  the  fate  of  War,  that 
a  good  Soldier  never  ought  to  be  affraid  of  his  Life 
where  there  was  a  Probability  of  his  doing  fervice  by 
ventureing  of  it  which  was  my  Cafe.  That  I  hoped  that 
they  would  not  let  the  news  Spoil  our  Divirfion  fooner 
than  was  neceflary,  that  we  would  divirt  ourfelves  until 
our  horfes  was  ready,  forced  them  to  dance,  and  en- 
deavoured to  appear  as  unconcerned  as  if  no  fuch  thing 
was  in  Adjutation.  This  conduct  infpired  the  Young 
Men  in  fuch  a  manner  that  many  of  them  was  getting 
their  Horfes  to  Share  fate  with  me.  But  chufing  to 
loofe  no  time  as  foon  as  I  could  write  a  few  lines  on  the 
back  of  my  Letter  to  Captain  Bowman  at  Cohos,  I  fet 
out  for  Kafkafkias ;  each  Man  (took)  a  Blanket,  that  in 
cafe  the  Fort  was  attached,  we  were  to  wrap  ourfelves  in 
them  fall  in  with  the  Enemies  fire  at  the  Fort  until  we 
had  an  oppertunity  of  getting  fo  near  as  to  give  the 
proper  fignals,  knowing  that  we  would  be  let  in.  But 
on  our  Arrival  we  found  everything  as  calm  as  we 
could  expect.  The  weather  being  bad,  it  was  then 
thought  the  Attact  would  not  commence  until  it  cleared 


56  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

up.  But  no  Perfon  feem'd  to  doubt  of  the  Enemies 
being  at  hand,  and  from  many  circumstances  I  could 
not  but  Suppofe  it  was  the  cafe,  that  they  defer'd  the 
Attact  for  fome  time  in  order  to  give  us  time  to 
Retreat,  which  I  fuppofed  they  wou'd  rather  chufe  by 
their  proceedings ;  But  I  was  determined  that  they 
mould  be  difappointed  if  that  was  their  wifties.  There 
was  no  time  loft  during  the  Night,  puting  every  thing 
in  as  good  order  as  Poflible.  The  Prieft,  of  all  Men 
the  moft  affraid  of  Mr.  Hammilton,  he  was  in  the 
greateft  confternation,  determined  to  Act  agreeable  to 
my  Inftruction.  I  found  by  his  Confternation  that 
he  was  fure  the  Fort  would  be  taken,  Except  Rein- 
forced by  the  Garriflbn  at  Cohos  which  I  did  not  chufe 
to  let  him  know  would  be  the  cafe  although  I  knew 
him  to  be  a  Zealous  Friend.  I  pretended  that  I 
wanted  him  to  go  to  the  Spanifh  fide  with  Publick 
Papers  and  Money,  the  Proportion  pleaf'd  him  well, 
he  immediately  ftarted  &  getting  into  an  ifland  the  Ice 
parting  fo  thick  down  the  Mefficippi,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  Encamp  three  days  in  the  moft  obfcure  part 
of  the  ifland  with  only  a  Servant  to  attend  him. 

I  fpent  many  ferious  reflections  during  the  night. 
The  Inhabitants  had  always  appear'd  to  be  attached  to 
us  but  I  was  convinced  that  I  fliould  in  the  morning 
have  a  Sufficient  trial  of  their  fedility  (feveral  of  their 
Young  Men  had  turned  into  the  Fort  in  order  to  defend 
it)  but  Senfible  at  the  fame  time  that  in  cafe  they  took 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  57 

Arms  to  defend  the  Town  that  the  whole  would  proba- 
bly be  loft,  as  I  mould  be  obliged  to  give  the  Enemy 
Battle  in  the  Commons.  I  would  have  chofe  to  have 
had  thofe  without  families  to  Reinforce  the  Garriflbn, 
and  the  reft  to  have  lain  Neuter. 

I  refolved  to  burn  part  of  the  Town  that  was 
near  the  Fort  and  Guard  it,  as  I  knew  the  great- 
eft  fervice  we  poflibly  could  do  was  to  Sell  the  Fort 
as  Dear  as  poffible,  there  being  no  probability  of 
efcaping  after  attact,  or  expectation  of  Reinforcements, 
as  we  were  too  far  detached  from  the  Body  of  our 
Country.  The  only  probable  chance  of  fafety  was 
Cap1-  Bowman's  joining  me  which  I  expected  the 
next  evening  down  the  Meflicippi,  to  defend  ourfelves 
until  Mr.  Hamilton's  Indians  got  tired  and  returned 
in  four  or  five  Weeks  which  I  expected  the  greateft 
Part  would  do  if  they  had  not  that  Succefs  that  they  ex- 
pected. I  had  no  occafion  to  confult  the  Garriflbn  in  any 
Refolution  I  mould  fix  upon  as  I  knew  they  was  all  as 
Spirited  as  I  could  wim  them  to  be,  and  took  pains  to 
make  them  as  defperate  as  poflible.  If  You  rightly 
Confider  our  Situation  &  Circumftance  You  muft  con- 
ceive it  to  be  defperate ;  in  the  morning  the  firft  thing 
I  did  was  to  aflemble  all  the  Inhabitants  in  order 
to  know  their  Refolutions ;  as  they  had  been  the 
night  Counciling  with  each  other  they  expected  fome 
orders  Iflued,  which  I  did  not  chufe  to  do; 
at  the  Aflembly  I  afked  them  what  they  thought  of 


58  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

doing,  whether  they  would  endeavour  to  defend  the 
Town  or  not;  if  they  did  I  would  Quit  the  Fort 
leaving  a  Small  Guard,  and  head  them  with  the  Troops; 
and  if  the  Enemy  lay  until  the  weather  Broke,  we 
might  probably  in  the  mean  time  difcover  their  Camp 
and  get  fome  advantage  of  them.  They  appear' d 
to  be  in  great  confufion,  and  all  my  fear  was,  that 
they  would  agree  to  defend  themfelves,  and  if  the 
Enemy  was  as  numerous  as  was  expe<5ted,  the  whole 
would  be  loft.  But  I  need  not  have  been  uneafy  about 
that,  for  they  had  too  maturely  ftudied  their  own  Inter- 
eft  to  think  of  righting,  which  they  certainly  would 
have  done  if  I  had  only  as  many  Troops  as  would 
have  given  any  Probability  of  fuckcefs :  they  difplaid 
their  fituation  in  fuch  a  manner  as  was  really  moving 
and  with  great  truth.  But  denied  to  Act  either  on  one 
fide  or  the  other ;  And  begged  that  I  would  believe 
them  to  be  in  the  American  Intereft.  But  my  whole 
force  joined  with  them  would  make  but  a  poor  figure 
againft  fo  confiderable  a  Party  and  gave  hints  that  they 
could  wim  us  to  take  Spanifh  Protection  as  they  could 
not  conceive  we  could  keep  pofleffion  a  Single  day  as  the 
Enemy  would  immediately  fet  the  adjacent  Houfes  on 
fire  which  would  fire  the  Fort  (not  knowing  that  I  in- 
tended to  Burn  them  myfelf  as  foon  as  the  wind  fhifted.) 
I  very  feldom  found  but  I  could  govern  my  temper  at 
pleafure,  But  this  declaration  of  theirs  and  fome  other 
Circumftances  put  me  in  a  moft  violent  Rage,  and  as 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  59 

foon  as  I  could  curb  my  Paflion  gave  a  Lecture  fuit- 
able  for  a  fet  of  Traitors  (although  I  could  not  con- 
ceive the  whole  of  them  to  be  fuch),  I  ordered  them 
out  of  the  GarrifTon,  and  told  them  that  I  no  longer 
thought  they  deferved  favour  from  me,  that  I  cohfe- 
quently  muft  conceive  them  to  be  my  fecret  Enemies 
and  mould  treat  them  as  fuch.  They  endeavoured  to 
footh  me  into  pitty,  but  to  have  liftned  to  them  would 
have  deftroyed  my  intention.  I  determined  to  make 
myfelf  appear  to  them  as  defperate  as  Poflible  that  it 
might  have  a  Greater  effect  on  the  Enemy,  (they  afked 
me  to  iffue  an  order  for  all  the  Provifion  in  the  Town 
to  be  brought  into  the  Fort  immediately,  by  which  I 
was  convinced  that  it  was  their  defire  that  I  mould  be 
able  to  ftand  the  Siege  as  long  as  Poflible,  and  only 
wanted  an  excufe  to  the  Perfon  they  expected  every 
moment  to  be  their  Mafter,  for  making  the  fupplies) 
I  told  them  that  I  would  have  all  the  Provifions  and 
then  Burn  the  Town  to  the  Enemies  hand :  that  they 
might  fend  the  Provifions  if  they  chofe  it,  and  fent 
them  out  of  the  Fort :  and  immediately  had  fire  fet  to 
fome  out  Houfes.  Never  was  a  fet  of  People  in  more 
diftrefs,  their  Town  fet  on  fire  by  thofe  they  wifhed  to 
be  in  friendship  with,  at  the  fame  time  Surrounded 
by  the  Savages,  as  they  expected,  from  whom  they 
had  but  little  elfe  but  deftruction  to  expect.  The 
Houfes  being  covered  with  Snow,  the  fire  had  no 
effect  only  on  thofe  it  was  fet  to,  the  Inhabitants 


60  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

looking  on  without  daring  to  fay  a  word.  I  told  them 
that  I  intended  to  fet  fire  to  all  thofe  that  had  much 
Provifion  for  fear  of  the  Enemie's  getting  it.  They 
were  not  in  fo  great  a  Leathergy,  but  they  took  the  hint 
and  before  night  they  brought  in  fix  months  Provifions 
of  all  forts  j  by  which  they  were  in  hopes  to  come  on 
better  Terms ;  but  a  frefh  circumftance  Alarmed  them. 
One  of  the  Inhabitants  Riding  into  the  Field,  met  a 
Man  that  told  him  he  faw  a  party  of  the  Enemy  going 
on  the  Ifland  to  take  the  Prieft,  he,  returning  to  Town 
met  the  Prieft' s  Brother  in  Law  and  told  him  what  he 
had  heard,  and  begged  of  him  not  to  tell  me  of  it,  the 
Poor  fellow  half  feared  to  death  about  his  Brother, 
made  all  hafte  and  told  me.  I  took  his  Evidence,  fent 
for  the  Citizen,  who  could  not  deny  it. 

I  immediately  ordered  him  hanged.  The  Town 
took  the  Alarm,  hafted  about  the  walls  of  the  Fort,  if 
poffible  to  fave  their  Friend.  The  Poor  fellow  given 
up  to  the  Soldiers  who  dragged  him  to  the  place  of 
Execution,  each  ftriving  to  be  foremoft  in  the  Execu- 
tion as  if  they  thirfted  after  Blood ;  fome  was  for 
Tomahawking  him,  fome  for  hanging  &  others  for 
Burning :  they  got  to  quarreling  about  it,  which  at  laft 
faved  his  life;  the  Inhabitants  having  time  to  fupplicate 
in  his  favour,  but  nothing  would  have  faved  his  life  but 
the  appearance  of  his  Wife  and  feven  fmall  Children, 
which  fight  was  too  moving  not  to  have  granted  them 
the  life  of  their  Parent  on  terms  that  put  it  out  of  his 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  61 

power  to  do  any  damage  to  me.  The  weather  clearing 
away  Capt.  Bowman  Arrived  the  following  day  with  his 
own  and  a  compy  of  Volunteers  from  Cohos ;  we  now 
began  to  make  a  tolerable  appearance  and  feemed  to 
defie  the  Enemy :  and  fent  out  Spies  on  every  quarter 
to  make  difcovery  of  them,  hoping  we  might  get  fome 
Advantage  of  them,  chufing  for  many  important 
Reafons  to  attacl  them  two  to  one  in  the  field  rather 
than  fuffer  them  to  take  pofTefllon  of  the  Town,  which 
by  the  form  and  manner  of  picquiting,  the  Yards  and 
Gardens  was  very  Strong.  I  was  convinced  that  the 
Inhabitants  now  wifhed  that  they  had  behaved  in  an- 
other manner.  I  took  the  advantage  of  the  favourable 
oppertunity  to  Attach  them  intirely  in  my  Intereft,  and 
inftead  of  Treating  them  more  fevear  as  they  expected 
on  my  being  Reinforced,  I  altered  my  conduct  towards 
them  and  treated  them  with  the  greateft  kindnefs,  grant- 
ing them  every  requeft,  my  influence  among  them,  in  a 
few  hours  was  greater  than  ever;  they  condemning 
themfelves  and  thought  that  I  had  treated  them  as 
they  deferved ;  and  I  believe,  had  Mr.  Hammilton 
appear'd  we  mould  have  defeated  him  with  a  good 
deal  of  eafe  not  fo  numerous  but  the  Men  being  much 
better.  Our  fpies  returning,  and  found  the  great  Army 
that  gave  the  alarm  confifted  only  of  about  forty  Whites 
and  Indians  making  their  Retreat  as  faft  as  poffible  to 
St.  Vincents ;  fent  for  no  other  purpofe,  as  we  found 
after  than  to  take  me.  We  were  now  fenfible  that  St. 


62  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Vincents  was  in  pofleffion  of  the  Englim;  and  confe- 
quently  we  might  fhortly  expect  an  Attact  though  no 
danger  at  prefent,  and  had  fome  time  to  make  prepara- 
tion for  what  we  were  certain  of.  I  had  reafon  to 
expect  a  Reinforcement  on  the  prefumption  that 
Government  ordered  one  on  the  Receipt  of  my  firft 
Letter;  ftill  encouraged  each  other  and  hoped  for  the 
beft:  But  fuffered  more  uneafinefs  than  when  I  was 
certain  of  an  immediate  attach,  as  I  had  more  time  to 
reflect;  the  Refult  of  which  was  that  the  Illinois  in  a 
few  months  would  be  in  pcfleflion  of  the  Englim 
except  the  Garrifon  which  I  knew  would  not  be  difpofed 
to  furrender  without  the  greateft  diftrefs.  I  fent  off 
Horfemen  to  St.  Vincents  to  take  a  Prifoner  by  which 
we  might  get  intiligence,  but  found  it  impracticable  on 
account  of  the  high  waters ;  but  in  the  hight  of  our 
anxiety  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  Jan?>  1779 
Mr.  Vague*  a  Spanifh  merch1'  arrived  from  St.  Vin- 


*  Col.  Francis  Vigo,  a  Spanish  merchant  at  St.  Louis,  con- 
nected in  business  with  the  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  as 
soon  as  he  heard  of  Clark's  arrival  at  Kaskaskia,  went  to  him 
and  tendered  him  his  means  and  influence,  which  were  joyfully 
accepted.  At  the  suggestion  of  Col.  Clark  he  started  with  a 
single  servant  to  Vincennes,  to  learn  the  actual  state  of  affairs 
there.  He  was,  however,  seized  at  the  river  Embarrass  and 
taken  before  Gov.  Hamilton,  who  released  him  on  parole  on 
condition  that  he  would  report  himself  daily  at  the  fort.  After 
some  days,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  63 

cents,  and  was  there  the  time  of  its  being  taken,  and 
gave  me  every  intiligence  that  I  could  wifh  to  have 
Governour  Hamilton's  Party  confifted  of  about  eight 
hundred  when  he  took  porTeflion  of  that  Poft  on  the 
iyth  day  of  december  paft:  finding  the  Seafon  too  far 
fpent  for  his  intention  againft  Kafkafkias  had  fent 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  Indians  out  in  different  Parties 
to  War :  But  to  embody  as  foon  as  the  weather  would 
Permit  and  compleat  his  defign:  He  had  alfo  fent 
meflengers  to  the  fouthern  Indians,  five  hundred  of 
whom  he  expected  to  join  him  only  eighty  Troops  in 
GarrifTon,  (our  Situation  ftill  appear'd  defperate,  it  was 
at  this  moment  I  would  have  bound  myfelf  feven  years 
a  Slave,  to  have  had  five  hundred  Troops)  I  faw  the  only 

town,  by  whom  Vigo  was  greatly  respected,  Gov.  Hamilton  offered 
to  release  him  altogether  if  he  would  sign  an  article  "not  to  do 
any  act  during  the  war  injurious  to  the  British  interests."  This 
he  positively  refused  to  do ;  but  he  was  finally  released  on 
agreeing  "not  to  do  anything  injurious  to  the  British  interests  on 
his  way  to  St.  Louis,  He  went  in  a  piroque  down  the  Wabash 
and  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  thus  keeping  the 
letter  of  his  bond,  but  he  had  no  sooner  set  foot  at  St.  Louis, 
than  he  re-embarked  and  hastened  to  Kaskaskia,  where  he  arrive'd 
on  the  agth  of  January,  1799,  and  furnished  Col.  Clark  with,  as 
he  says,  "every  intelligence  I  could  wish  to  have."  See  Law's 
Colonial  History  of  Vincennes,  p.  26.  Col.  Vigo  finally  settled 
at  Vincennes,  where  he  was  still  (1834)  living  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-six,  "a  venerable  and  highly-respected  citizen." 
Butler's  History  of  Kentucky,  p.  80. 


64  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

probability  of  our  maintains  the  Country  was  to  take 
the  advantage  of  his  prefent  weaknefs,  perhaps  we 
might  be  fortunate:  I  confidered  the  Inclemency  of  the 
feafon,  the  badnefs  of  the  Roads,  &c.,  as  an  advantage 
to  us,  as  they  would  be  more  off  their  Guard  on  all 
Quarters.  I  collected  the  Officers,  told  them  the  proba- 
bility I  thought  there  was  of  turning  the  fcale  in  our 
favour.  I  found  it  the  fentiment  of  every  one  of 
them  and  eager  for  it.  Our  Plans  immediately  con- 
cluded on,  and  fent  An  Exprefs  to  Cohos  for  the 
Return  of  Capt.  McCarty  &  his  Volunteers,  and  fet 
about  the  neceffary  preparations  in  order  to  Tranfport 
my  Artillery  Stores,  &c. 

I  had  a  Large  Boat  prepared  and  Rigged,  mounting 
two  four  pounders  4  large  fwivels  Manned  with  a 
fine  Comp  commanded  by  Lieut.  Rogers.  She  fet  out 
out  in  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  Jan?»  (?  Febi)  with 
orders  to  force  her  way  if  pofllble  within  ten  Leagues  of 
St.  Vincents  and  lay  until  further  Orders.  This  Veffel 
when  compleat  was  much  admired  by  the  Inhabitants  as 
no  fuch  thing  had  been  feen  in  the  Country  before.  I 
had  great  Expectations  from  her.  I  conducted  myfelf 
as  though  I  was  fure  of  taking  Mr.  Hamilton,  in- 
flructed  my  officers  to  obferve  the  fame  Rule.  In  a  day 
or  two  the  Country  feemed  to  believe  it,  many  anctious 
to  Retrieve  their  Characters  turned  out,  the  Ladies, 
began  alfo  to  be  fpirited  and  intereft  themfelves  in  the 
Expedition,  which  had  great  effect  on  the  Young  Men. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  65 

By  the  4th  day  of  Jan?  (?  Febs]  I  got  every  thing 
Compleat  and  on  the  5th  I  marched  being  joined  by 
two  Volunteer  compy8  of  the  Principal  Young  Men  of 
the  Illinois  Command*1  by  Capt.  McCarty  and  Fran- 
ces Charlaville.  Thofe  of  the  troops  was  Captns  Bow- 
man* &  William  Worthingtons  of  the  light  Horfe,  we 
were  Conducted  out  of  the  Town  by  the  Inhabitants 
and  Mr.  Jeboth  the  Prieft,  who  after  a  very  fuitable 
Difcourfe  to  the  purpofe,  gave  us  all  Abfolution,  And 
we  fet  out  on  a  Forlorn  hope  indeed ;  for  our  whole 
Party  with  the  Boats  Crew  confifted  of  only  a  little 
upwards  of  two  hundred.  I  cannot  account  for  it  but 
I  ftill  had  inward  aflurance  of  fuccefs,  and  never  could 
when  weighing  every  Circumftance  doubt  it :  But  I  had 
fome  fecret  check.  We  had  now  a  Rout  before  us  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  miles  in  length,  through,  I  fup- 
pofe  one  of  the  moft  beautiful  Country  in  the  world, 
but  at  this  time  in  many  parts  flowing  with  water  and 
exceading  bad  marching,  my  greateft  care  was  to  divert 
the  Men  as  much  as  poflible  in  order  to  keep  up  their 
fpirits ;  the  firft  obftruction  of  any  confequence  that 
I  met  with  was  on  the  ijth,  Arriveing  at  the  two  little 
Wabachees  although  three  miles  afunder  they  now  make 
but  one,  the  flowed  water  between  them  being  at  Leaft 
three  feet  deep,  and  in  many  places  four:  Being 
near  five  miles  to  the  oppofite  Hills,  the  malloweft 

*  For  Captain   Bowman's  journal  of  this  expedition,  see 
Appendix. 


66  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

place,  except  about  one  hundred  Yards,  was  three  feet. 
This  would  have  been  enough  to  have  ftoped  any 
fet  of  men  that  was  not  in  the  fame  temper  that 
we  was. 

But  in  three  days  we  contrived  to  crofs,  by 
building  a  large  Canoe,  ferried  acrofs  the  two  Channels, 
the  reft  of  the  way  we  waded;  Building  fcaffolds  at  each 
to  lodge  our  Baggage  on  until  the  Horfes  CrofTed  to 
take  them;  it  Rained  nearly  a  third  of  our  march,  but  we 
never  halted  for  it;  In  the  evening  of  the  iyth  we  got  to 
the  low  Lands  of  the  River  Umbara,*  which  we  found 
deep  in  water,  it  being  nine  miles  to  St.  Vincents, 
which  ftood  on  the  Earl  fide  of  the  Wabache  and  every 
foot  of  the  way  covered  with  deep  water ;  we  Marched 
down  the  little  River  in  order  to  gain  the  Banks  of  the 
main,  which  we  did  in  about  three  Leagues,  made  a 
fmall  Canoe  and  fent  an  Exprefs  to  meet  the  Boat  and 
hurry  it  up  ;  from  the  fpot  we  now  lay  on  (it)  was  about 
ten  miles  to  Town,  and  every  foot  of  the  way  put  to- 
gether that  was  not  three  feet  and  upwards  under  water 
would  not  have  made  the  length  of  two  miles  and 
half,  and  not  a  mouthful  of  Provifion ;  to  have 
waited  for  our  Boat,  if  poflible  to  avoid  it,  would  have 
been  Impolitic.  If  I  was  fenfible  that  you  would  let 
no  Perfon  fee  this  relation,  I  would  give  You  a  detail 
of  our  fuffering  for  four  days  in  croffing  thofe  waters, 


*The  Embarrass  river  enters  the  Wabash  on  the  west,  a  little 
below  Vincennes — course  southeast. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  67 

and  the  manner  it  was  done,  as  I  am  fure  that  You 
wou'd  Credit  it,  but  it  is  too  incredible  for  any  Perfon 
to  believe  except  thofe  that  are  as  well  acquainted  with 
me  as  You  are,  or  had  experienced  fomething  fimilar  to  it. 
I  hope  you  will  excufe  me  until  I  have  the  pleafure  of 
feeing  you  perfonally.  But  to  our  inexpreflible  Joy,  in 
the  evening  of  the  23d  we  got  fafe  on  Terra  firma  within 
half  a  League  of  the  Fort,  covered  by  a  fmall  Grove  of 
Trees  had  a  full  view  of  the  wimed  for  fpot  (I  mould 
have  crofled  at  a  greater  diftance  from  the  Town,  but 
the  White  River  comeing  in  juft  below  us  we  were 
affraid  of  getting  too  near  it.)  we  had  Already  taken 
fome  Prifoners  that  was  coming  from  the  Town. 
Laying  in  this  Grove  fome  time  to  dry  our  Clothes 
by  the  Sun  we  took  another  Prifoner  known  to  be  a 
friend  by  which  we  got  all  the  Intiligence  we  wimed 
for :  but  would  not  fuffer  him  to  fee  our  Troops  except 
a  few. 

A  thoufand  Ideas  flufhed  in  my  Head  at  this 
moment.  I  found  that  Govr.  Hamilton  was  able  to 
defend  himfelf  for  a  considerable  time,  but  knew  that 
he  was  not  able  to  turn  out  of  the  Fort ;  that  if  the 
Seige  Continued  long  a  Superior  number  might  come 
againft  us,  as  I  knew  there  was  a  Party  of  Englifh  not 
far  above  in  the  River;  that  if  they  found  out  our 
Numbers  (they)  might  raife  the  difaffected  Savages  and 
harrafs  us.  I  refolved  to  appear  as  Daring  as  poflible, 
that  the  Enemy  might  conceive  by  our  behaviour  that 


68  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

we  were  very  numerous  and  probably  difcourage  them. 
I  immediately  wrote  to  the  Inhabitants  in  general, 
Informing  them  where  I  was  and  what  I  determined  to 
do  defireing  the  Friends  to  the  States  to  keep  clofe  to 
their  Houfes  and  thofe  in  the  Britifh  Intereft  to  repair 
to  the  fort  and  fight  for  their  King ;  otherways  there 
mould  be  no  mercy  fhewn  them,  &c.,  &c.  Sending 
the  Compliments  of  feveral  Officers  that  was  known  to 
be  Expected  to  reinforce  me,  to  feveral  Gentlemen  of 
the  Town ;  I  difpatched  the  Prifoner  off  with  this 
letter  waiting  until  near  funfet,  giving  him  time  to  get 
near  the  Town  before  we  marched.  As  it  was  an  open 
Plain  from  the  Wood  that  covered  us;  I  march'd  time 
enough  to  be  feen  from  the  Town  before  dark  but 

D 

taking  advantage  of  the  Land,  difpofed  the  lines  in  fuch 
a  manner  that  nothing  but  the  Pavilions  could  be  feen, 
having  as  many  of  them  as  would  be  fufficient  for  a 
thoufand  Men,  which  was  obferved  by  the  Inhabitants 
who  had  Juft  Receiv'd  my  letter,  counted  the  different 
Colours  and  Judged  of  our  number  accordingly.  But 
I  was  careful  to  give  them  no  oppertunity  of  feeing 
our  Troops  before  dark,  which  it  would  be  before 
we  could  Arrive.  The  Houfes  obftrucled  the  Forts 
obferving  us  and  were  not  Allarmed  as  I  expected  by 
many  of  the  Inhabitants.  I  detached  Lieut.  Bayley 
and  a  Party  to  Attact  the  Fort  at  a  certain  Signal,  and 
took  pofleflion  of  the  ftrongeft  Pofts  of  the  Town 
with  the  main  Body.  The  Garriflbn  had  fo  little 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  69 

fuspicion  of  what  was  to  happen  that  they  did  not 
believe  the  Firing  was  from  an  Enemy*  until  a 
Man  was  Wounded  through  the  Ports  (which  hapned 
the  third  or  fourth  mot)  Expecling  it  to  be  fome 
drunk"  Indians.  The  fireing  commenced  on  both  fides 
very  warm,  a  fecond  Divifion  Joined  the  firft.  A  con- 
fiderable  number  of  Britifh  Indians  made  their  efcape 
out  of  Town:  The  Kickepous  and  Peankefhaws  to  the 
amount  of  about  one  hundred,  that  was  in  Town  im- 
mediately Armed  themfelves  in  our  favour  and  Marched 
to  attach  the  Fort.  I  thanked  the  Chief  for  his  intended 
fervice,  told  him  the  111  confequence  of  our  People 
being  mingled  in  the  dark,  that  they  might  lay  in 
their  quarters  until  light,  he  Approved  of  it  and  fent 
off  his  Troops,  appeared  to  be  much  elivated  himfelf 
and  ftaid  with  me  giving  all  the  Information  he  could. 

*  There  is  an  amusing  anecdote  connected  with  the  seige, 
illustrative  of  the  frank  and  fearless  spirit  of  the  times  ;  that 
while  Helm  was  a  prisoner  and  playing  at  piquet  with  Governor 
Hamilton  in  the  fort,  one  of  Clark's  men  requested  leave  of  his 
commander  to  shoot  at  Helm's  head-quartets,  so  soon  as  they 
were  discovered,  to  knock  down  the  clay  or  mortar  into  his 
apple  toddy  ;  which  he  was  sure  the  Captain,  from  his  well- 
known  fondness  for  that  fine  liquor,  would  have  on  his  hearth. 
It  is  farther  added,  that  when  the  Captain  heard  the  bullets  rat- 
tling about  the  chimney,  he  jumped  up  and  swore  it  was  Clark, 

and  he  would  make  them  all  prisoners,  though  the  d d  rascals 

had  no  business  to  spoil  his  toddy."  Butler's  History  of  Ken- 
tucky^ p.  80. 


70  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

(I  knew  him  to  be  a  friend.)  The  Artillery  from  the 
Fort  played  brifkly  but  did  no  execution.  The  Garris- 
fon  was  intirely  furrounded  within  eighty  and  a  hun- 
dred yards  behind  Houfes,  Palings,  and  Ditches,  &c., 
&c.  Never  was  a  heavier  fireing  kept  up  on  both  fides 
for  eighteen  Hours  with  fo  little  damage  done.  In  a 
few  hours  I  found  my  Prize  fure,  Certain  of  taking 
every  Man  that  I  could  have  wimed  for,  being  the  whole 
of  thofe  that  incited  the  Indians  to  War :  all  my  paft 
fufferings  vanifhed:  never  was  a  Man  more  happy.  It 
wanted  no  encouragement  from  any  Officer  to  inflame 
our  Troops  with  a  Martial  Spirit.  The  knowledge  of 
the  Perfon  they  attached  and  the  thoughts  of  their  mas- 
facred  friends  was  Sufficient.  I  knew  that  I  could  not 
afford  to  loofe  Men,  and  took  the  greateft  care  of  them 
that  I  poflibly  could:  at  the  fame  time  encouraged  them 
to  be  daring,  but  prudent,  every  place  near  the  Fort 
that  could  cover  them  was  crouded,  and  a  very  heavy 
firing  during  the  Night,  having  flung  up  a  confiderable 
intrenchment  before  the  gate  where  I  Intended  to  plant 
my  Artillery  when  Arrived.  I  had  learn  that  one  Ma- 
fonville  had  arived  that  evening  with  two  prifoners 
taken  on  the  Ohio  difcovering  fome  fign  of  us,  fup- 
posed  (us)  to  be  fpies  from  Kentucky  immediately  on  his 
arrival  Capt.  Lemote  (was)  fent  out  to  intercept  them ; 
being  out  on  our  Arival  could  not  gain  the  Fort;  in 
attempting  feveral  of  his  men  was  made  Prifoners, 
himfelf  and  party  hovering  round  the  Town ;  I  was 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  71 

convinced  that  they  wou'd  make  off  to  the  Indians  at  day 
brake  if  they  cou'd  not  join  their  friends ;  finding  all 
endeavours  fruitlefs  to  take  him,  I  withdrew  the  Troops 
a  little  from  the  Garriflbn  in  order  to  give  him  an  op- 
pertunity  to  get  in  which  he  did  much  to  his  credit 
and  my  fatisfaction;  as  I  would  rather  it  mould 
Receive  that  Reinforcement,  than  they  mould  be  at 
Large  among  the  Savages.  The  firing  again  commenced, 
A  number  of  the  Inhabitants  Joined  the  Troops  &  Be- 
haved exceeding  well  in  General;  knowing  of  the  Pris- 
oners lately  taken  and  by  the  difcription  I  had  of  them 
I  was  fure  of  their  being  the  Exprefs  from  Williamfburg 
(but  was  miftaken)  to  fave  the  papers  and  Letters ;  about 
Eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  ordered  the  fireing  to 
ceafe  and  fent  a  flag  into  the  Garriflbn  with  a  hand  Bill, 
Recommended  Mr.  Hamilton  to  furrender  his  Garris- 
fon,  &  fevere  threats  if  he  deftroyed  any  Letters,  &c. 
He  return'd  an  Anfw  to  this  purpofe;  that  the  Garriflbn 
was  not  difpofed  to  be  awed  into  any  thing  unbecomeing 
Britifli  Soldiers :  the  Attact  was  Renewed  with  greater 
Vigour  than  ever  and  continued  for  about  two  hours.  I 
was  determined  to  liften  to  no  Terms  whatever  until  I 
was  in  Pofleflion  of  the  Fort,  and  only  ment  to  keep 
them  in  Action  with  part  of  my  Troops,  while  I  was 
making  neceflary  preparations  with  the  other  (neg- 
lected calling  on  any  of  the  Inhabitants  for  Afliftants 
although  they  wifhed  for  it.)  A  flag  appear'd  from  the 
Fort  with  a  Propofition  from  Mr.  Hamilton  for  three 


7  2  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

days  Ceflation,  A  defire  of  a  Conferrence  with  me 
immediately,  that  if  I  mould  make  any  difficulty  of 
comeing  into  the  Fort,  he  would  meet  me  at  the  Gate; 
I  at  firfl  had  no  notion  of  listning  to  any  thing  he  had 
to  fay  as  I  could  only  confider  himfelf  &  Officers  as 
Murderers,  And  intended  to  treat  them  as  fuch;  but, 
after  fome  deliberation  I  fent  Mr.  Hamilton  my  Com- 
pliments, and  beged  leave  to  inform  him  that  I  mould 
agree  to  no  other  terms  than  his  furrendering  himfelf 
and  GarrirTon  Prifoners  at  difcretion;  but  if  he  was  de- 
firous  of  a  conferrence  with  me  I  would  meet  him  at 
the  Church.  We  accordingly  met,  he  Offered  to  fur- 
render  but  we  could  not  agree  upon  terms.  He  re- 
ceived fuch  treatment  on  this  Conferrence  as  a  Man  of 
his  known  Barbarity  deferv'd.  I  would  not  come  upon 
terms  with  him,  and  recommend'd  to  him  to  defend 
himfelf  with  fpirit  and  Bravery,  that  it  was  the  only 
thing  that  would  induce  me  to  treat  him  and  his  Garris- 
fon  with  Lenity  in  case  I  ftormed  it  which  he  might  ex- 
pect. He  afked  me  what  more  I  could  Require  than 
the  offers  he  had  already  made.  I  told  him  (which  was 
really  the  truth)  that  I  wanted  a  fufficient  excufe  to  put 
all  the  Indians  &  partifans  to  death,  as  the  greateft 
part  of  thofe  Villains  was  then  with  him :  all  his 
proportions  were  refuf'd:  he  afked  me  if  nothing 
would  do  but  fighting.  I  knew  of  nothing  elfe,  he 
then  begged  me  to  flay  until  he  mould  return  to  the 
Garriffon  and  confult  his  Officers:  being  indiferent  about 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  73 

him  and  wanted  a  few  moments  for  my  Troops  to  re- 
frefh  themfelves,  I  told  him  that  the  firing  mould  not 
commence  until  fuch  an  hour,  that  during  that  time  he 
was  at  Liberty  to  pafs  with  fafety.  Some  time  before  a 
Party  of  Warriers  fent  by  Mr.  Hamilton  againft  Ken- 
tucky, had  taken  two  prifoners,  was  difcovered  by 
the  Kickebues,  who  gave  information  of  them.  A 
Party  was  immediately  Detached  to  meet  them  which 
hapned  in  the  Commons ;  they  conceived  our  Troops 
to  be  a  Party  fent  by  Mr.  Hamilton  to  conduct  them 
in,  an  honr  commonly  paid  them.  I  was  higly  pleafed 
to  fee  each  Party  hooping,  hollowing  and  Striking 
each  other's  Breafts  as  they  approached  in  the  open 
fields  each  feemed  to  try  to  outdo  the  other  in  the 
greateft  figns  of  Joy;  the  Poor  Devils  never  difcov- 
ered their  miftake  until  it  was  too  late  for  many  of 
them  to  efcape:  Six  of  them  were  made  Prifoners,  two 
of  them  Scalped  and  the  reft  fo  wounded  as  we  after- 
wards learnt  (that]  but  one  Lived.  I  had  now  a 
fair  oppertunity  of  making  an  impreffion  on  the 
Indians  that  I  could  have  wiihed  for;  that  of  convincing 
them  that  Governour  Hamilton  could  not  give  them  that 
protection  that  he  had  made  them  to  believe  he  could, 
and  in  fome  meafure  to  infence  the  Indians  againft 
him  for  not  Exerting  himfelf  to  fave  that  Friends  :  Or- 
dered the  Prifoners  to  be  Tomahawked  in  the  face  of  the 
Garriflbn.  It  had  the  effect  that  I  expected :  infted 
of  making  their  friends  inviterate  againft  us,  they  up- 


74  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

braided  the  Englifh  Parties  in  not  trying  to  fave  their 
friends  and  gave  them  to  underftand  that  they  believed 
them  to  be  Hers  and  no  Warriers.  A  remarkable  Cir- 
cumftance  hapned  that  I  think  worthy  our  notice :  An 
old  French  Gent,  of  the  name  of  St.  Croix,  Lieut. 
of  Capt.  McGarty's  Volunteers  from  Cohos  had  but 
one  Son,  who  headed  thefe  Indians  and  was  made  Pris- 
oner. The  queftioh  was  put  whether  the  White  Man 
Should  be  faved.  I  ordered  them  to  put  him  to  Death, 
through  Indignation,  which  did  not  extend  to  the  Sav- 
ages, for  fear  he  would  make  his  efcape,  his  father  drew 
his  Sword  and  flood  by  him  in  order  to  Run  him  through 
in  cafe  he  mould  ftir ;  being  painted  (he)  could  not  know 
him.  The  Wretch  on  feeing  the  Executioner's  Toma- 
hawk raifed  to  give  the  fatal  Stroke,  raifed  his  eyes  as 
if  making  his  laft  Addrefles  to  heaven ;  Cried,  O  Save 
me.  The  father  knew  the  Son's  voice  you  may  eafily 
guefs  of  the  adgetation  and  behaviour  of  thefe  two 
Perfons,  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  each  other  at  fo 
critical  a  moment.  I  had  fo  little  mercy  for  fuch  Mur- 
derers, and  fo  valuable  an  oppertunity  for  an  Example, 
knowing  there  would  be  the  greateft  felicitations  made 
to  fave  him,  that  I  immediately  abfconded  myfelf :  but 
by  the  warmeft  felicitations  from  his  father  who  had 
behaved  fo  exceedingly  well  in  our  fervice,  and  fome  of 
the  Officers,  I  granted  his  Life  on  certain  conditions. 

Mr.    Hamilton    and  myfelf  again  met:     he  pro- 
duc'd  certain  Articles  which  was  refufed,  but  towards 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  75 

the  clofe   of  the   Evening    I   fent  him    the  following 
Articles : 

i ft.  That  Lieut.  Governour  Hamilton  engages  to 
deliver  up  to  Col°.  Clark,  Fort  Sachville  as  it  is  at 
prefent  with  all  the  Stores,  &c. 

2d.  The  Garriflbn  are  to  deliver  themfelves  up  as 
Prifoners  of  War  and  March  out  with  their  Arms  and 
Acoutriments,  &c.,  &c. 

jrd.  The  Garrifon  to  be  Delivered  up  tomorrow, 
at  ten  o'clock. 

4th.  Three  days  time  be  allowed  the  Garrifon  to 
fettle  their  Accompts  with  the  Traders  and  Inhabitants 
of  this  Place. 

5thly.     The  Officers  of  the  Garriflbn  to  be  allowed 
their  neceflary  Baggage,  &c.,  &c. 

Which  was  agreed  to  and  fullfilled  the  next  day 
knowing  that  Governour  Hamilton  had  fent  a  Party  of 
Men  up  the  Ouabach  to  Ome  for  Stores  that  he  had  left 
there  which  muft  be  on  their  return;  I  waited  about 
twelve  hours  for  the  Arival  of  the  Galley  to  Intercept 
them:  but  fearing  their  getting  Intiligence,  difpatched 
Cap*-  Helms  with  a  Party  in  Armed  Boats  who  fup- 
prefled  and  made  Prifoners  of  forty,  among  which  was 
Dejeane,  Grand  Judge  of  Detroit,  with  a  large  Packet 
from  Detroit;  and  feven  Boats  load  of  Provifions, 
Indian  goods,  &c.  Never  was  a  Perfon  more  mortified 
than  I  was  at  this  time  to  fee  fo  fair  an  oppertunity  to 
pufh  a  victory;  Detroit  loft  for  want  of  a  few  Men; 


j6  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

knowing  that  they  would  immediately  make  greater 
Preparations  expecting  me.  The  Galley  had  taken  up 
on  her  paflage  the  Exprefs  from  Williamflburg  with 
letters  from  his  Excellency.  Having  at  once  all  the 
intiligence  I  could  wifti  for  from  both  fides,  I  was 
better  able  to  fix  my  future  Plans  of  operation  againft 
Du  Troit.  By  his  Excellencie's  letter  I  might  expect 
to  have  a  Compleat  Battallion  in  a  few  months,  the 
Militia  of  the  Illinois  I  knew  would  turn  out,  did 
did  not  doubt  of  getting  two  or  three  hundred  Men 
from  Kentucky  Confequently  put  the  matter  out  or 
doubt. 

I  contented  myfelf  on  that  Prefumption,  having 
almoft  as  many  Prifoners  as  I  had  Men.  Seeing  the 
neceflity  of  geting  rid  of  many  of  the  Prifoners,  not 
being  able  to  guard  them;  not  doubting  but  my 
good  treatment  to  the  Volunteers  and  Inhabitants  of 
Detroit  would  Promote  my  Interefts  there  I  dis- 
charged the  greateft  Part  of  them  that  had  not  been 
with  Indian  Parties,  on  their  taking  the  Oath  of  Neu- 
trility.  They  went  off  huzzaing  for  the  Congrefs  and 
declared  though  they  could  not  fight  againft  the  Ameri- 
cans they  would  for  them,  (As  I  after  this  had  Spies 
conftant  to  and  from  Detroit,  I  learn*  they  anfwered 
every  purpofe  that  I  could  have  wifhed  for,  by  preju- 
dicing their  friends  in  favour  of  America. 

So  certain  was  the  Inhabitants  of  that  Poft,  of 
my  Marching  immediately  againft  it,  that  they  made 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  77 

Provifion  for  me  in  defiance  of  the  Garrifon.     Many 
of  them  has  paid  dear  for  it  fince. 

I   difpatched  off  Capt-  Williams   and  compy  with 
Governour  Hamilton,*  his  Principal  Officers  and  a  few 

*  These  prisoners  were  taken  to  Virginia.  "  It  appeared 
by  papers  laid  before  the  Council  of  State,  that  Governor  Ham- 
ilton had  issued  proclamations  and  approved  of  practices,  which 
were  marked  with  cruelty  towards  the  people  that  fell  into  his 
hands,  such  as  inciting  the  Indians  to  bring  in  scalps,  putting 
prisoners  in  irons,  and  giving  them  up  to  be  the  victims  of  sav- 
age barbarity.  The  Council  decided  that  Governor  Hamilton 
was  a  proper  subject  for  retaliation,  and  that  he  should  be  put  in 
irons  and  confined  in  a  jail."  (Washington's  Writings ,  vol.  vi, 
p.  317.)  The  British  General  Phillips  remonstrated  against  this 
treatment,  as  Hamilton  had  capitulated  on  honorable  terms, 
Governor  Jefferson  referred  the  matter  to  General  Washington, 
who  recommended  a  mitigation  of  the  punishment.  The  irons 
were  taken  off,  but  he  was  still  kept  in  close  confinement  with 
the  other  prisoners.  In  November,  1799,  Mr.  Jefferson  wrote 
to  General  Washington  that  "  Lamothe  and  Dejean  had  given 
their  paroles,  and  are  at  Hanover  Court  House.  Hamilton, 
Hay,  and  four  others  are  still  obstinate.  They  are  therefore 
still  in  close  confinement."  (Ibid,  p.  407.)  October  JOth,  1780, 
General  Washington  wrote :  "  The  State  of  Virginia,  sensible 
of  the  dangerous  influence  which  Governor  Hamilton  holds 
over  the  Indians,  have  absolutely  refused  to  exchange  him  on 
any  terms,  for  the  present  at  least."  (Ibid,  vol.  vii,  p.  240.) 
Governor  Hamilton  and  Major  Hayes  (or  Hay]  in  November, 
1780,  accepted  a  parole,  and  were  permitted  to  go  to  New 
York.  (Ibid,  p.  291.)  Hamilton  was  afterwards  exchanged, 


7  8  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Soldiers  to  the  Falls  of  Ohio,  to .  be  fent  to  Williams- 
burg,  and  in  a  few  days  fent  my  Letters  to  the  Gov- 
ourr. 

Having  matters  a  little  fetled,  the  Indian  depart- 
ment became  the  next  Object.  I  knew  that  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton had  endeavoured  to  make  them  believe  that  we 
intended  at  laft  to  take  all  their  Lands  from  them,  and 
that  in  cafe  of  Succefs  we  would  mew  no  greater  Mercy 
for  thofe  who  did  not  Join  him  than  thofe  that  did.  I 
indeavoured  to  make  myfelf  acquainted  (with}  the  Argu- 
ments he  ufed;  And  calling  together  the  neighbouring 
Nations,  Peankefhaws,  Kickepoes,  &  others  that  would 
not  liften  to  him  Indeavored  to  undeceive  them.  I 
made  a  very  long  Speach  to  them  in  the  Indian  manner, 
Extoll'd  them  to  the  Skies  for  their  Manly  behaviour 
and  fedility;  told  them  that  we  were  fo  far  from  having 
any  defign  on  their  Lands,  that  I  looked  upon  it  that 
we  were  then  on  their  Land  where  the  Fort  ftood,  that 
we  claimed  no  Land  in  their  Country;  that  the  firft 
Man  that  offered  to  take  their  Lands  by  Violence  muft 
ftrike  the  tomhk  in  my  head ;  that  it  was  only  neces- 
fary  that  I  mould  be  in  their  Country  during  the  War 

and  returned  to  Canada,  where,  on  the  recall  of  Sir  Frederick 
Haldimand  in  1785,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Governor  of 
Quebec.  He  held  this  position  only  one  year,  when  he 
returned  to  England,  and  was  shortly  afterwards  appointed  Gov- 
ernor of  Dominica.  He  died  at  Antigua  in  September,  1796. 
(Morgan's  Celebrated  Canadians,  p.  108.) 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  79 

and  keep  a  Fort  in  it  to  drive  off  the  Englifh,  who 
had  a  defign  againft  all  People;  after  that  I  might  go 
to  fome  place  where  I  could  get  Land  to  fupport  Me: 
The  Treaty  was  concluded  to  the  fatisfaction  of  both 
parties:  they  were  much  pleafed  at  what  they  heard, 
and  begged  me  to  favour  them  the  next  day  with  my 
Compy  at  a  Council  of  theirs.  I  accordingly  Attended; 
greateft  part  of  the  time  fpent  in  Ceremony,  they  at 
laft  told  me  that  they  had  been  meditating  on  what  I 
had  faid  the  day  before:  that  all  the  Nations  would  be 
rejoiced  to  have  me  always  in  their  Country  as  their 
great  Father  and  Protector :  And  as  I  had  faid  I  would 
claim  no  Land  in  their  Country,  they  were  determin'd 
that  they  would  not  loofe  me  on  that  Account;  and  Re- 
folved  to  give  me  a  Piece,  but  larger  than  they  had 
given  to  all  the  French  at  that  Village,  and  laying  down 
what  they  would  wifh  me  to  do,  &c.  I  was  well  pleafed 
at,  their  offer  as  I  had  then  an  opportunity  to  deny 
the  exceptance,  &  farther  convince  them  that  we  did 
not  want  their  Land;  they  appear'd  dejected  at  my 
Refufial.  I  waved  the  difcourfe  upon  other  Subjects : 
Recommended  a  frolick  to  them  that  night  as  the  Sky 
was  clearer  than  ever;  gave  to  them  a  qun7  of  Taffy  and 
Provifions  to  make  merry  on  and  left  them.  In  a  few 
days  fome  Chipoways  and  others  that  had  been  with  Mr. 
Hamilton,  came  in  and  begged  me  to  excufe  their  blind- 
nefs  and  take  them  into  favour ;  after  the  warmeft 
Silicitations  for  Mercy,  I  told  them  that  the  Big  Knives 


8o  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

was  merciful  which  Proved  them  to  be  warriers;  that 
I  mould  fend  Belts  and  a  fpeech  to  all  the  Nations  ;  that 
they  after  hearing  of  it  might  do  as  they  pleafed  but 
muft  blame  themfelves  for  future  misfortunes  and  dis- 
patched them.  Nothing  deftroys  Your  Intereft  among 
the  Savages  fo  foon  as  wavering  fentiments  or  fpeeches 
that  mew  the  leaft  fear.  I  confequently  had  obferved 
one  fteady  line  of  conduct  among  them :  Mr.  Hamilton, 
who  was  almoft  Deifyed  among  them  being  captured 
by  me,  it  was  a  fufficient  confirmation  to  the  Indians  of 
every  thing  I  had  formerly  faid  to  them  and  gave  the 
greateft  weight  to  the  Speeches  I  intended  to  fend  them ; 
expecting  that  I  mould  fhortly  be  able  to  fulfill  my 
threats  with  a  Body  of  Troops  fufficient  to  penetrate 
into  any  part  of  their  Country ;  and  by  Reducing 
Detroit  bring  them  to  my  feet.  I  fent  the  following 
Speech  to  the  different  Tribes  near  the  Lakes  that  was  at 
war  with  us,  to-wit : 

To  THE  WARRIERS  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  NATIONS. 

Men  and  Warriers :  it  is  a  long  time  fince  the  Big 
Knives  fent  Belts  of  peace  among  You  Siliciting 
of  You  not  to  liften  to  the  bad  talks  and  deceit  of  the 
Englifh  as  it  would  at  fome  future  day  tend  to  the 
Destruction  of  Your  Nations.  You  would  not  liften, 
but  Joined  the  Englifh  againft  the  Big  Knives  and 
fpilt  much  Blood  of  Women  &  Children.  The  Big 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  81 

Knives  then  refolved  to  fhew  no  mercy  to  any  People 
that  hereafter  would  refufe  the  Belt  of  Peace  which 
fhould  be  offered,  at  the  fame  time  One  of  War. 
You  remember  laft  fummer  a  great  many  People 
took  me  by  the  hand,  but  a  few  kept  back  their  Hearts. 
I  alfo  fent  Belts  of  Peace  and  War  among  the  nations 
to  take  their  choice,  fome  took  the  Peace  Belt,  others 
ftill  liftned  to  their  great  father  (as  they  call  him)  at 
Detroit,  and  Joined  him  to  come  to  War  againft  me. 
The  Big  Knives  are  Warriers  and  look  on  the  Englifh 
as  old  Women  and  all  thofe  that  Join  him  and 
are  amamed  when  they  fight  them  becaufe  they  are 
no  Men. 

I  now  fend  two  Belts  to  all  the  Nations,  one  for 
Peace  and  the  other  for  War.  The  one  that  is  for  War 
has  your  great  Englim  fathers  Scalp  tied  to  it,  and  made 
red  with  his  Blood;  all  You  that  call  yourfelves  his 
Children,  make  your  Hatchets  (harp  &  come  out  and 
Revenge  his  Blood  on  the  Big  Knives,  fight  like  Men 
that  the  Big  Knives  may  not  be  amamed  when  they 
fight  you  ;  that  the  old  Women  may  not  tell  us  that  we 
only  fought  Squaws.  If  any  of  You  is  for  taking  the 
Belt  of  Peace,  fend  the  Bloody  Belt  back  to  me  that 
I  may  know  who  to  take  by  the  hand  as  Brothers,  for 
you  may  be  Affured  that  no  peace  for  the  future  will 
be  granted  to  thofe  that  do  not  lay  down  their  Arms 
immediately.  Its  as  you  will  I  dont  care  whether  You 
are  for  Peace  or  War;  as  I  Glory  in  War  and  want 


82  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Enemies  to  fight  us,  as  the  Englifh  cant  fight  us  any 
longer,  and  are  become  like  Young  Children  begging 
the  Big  Knives  for  mercy  and  a  little  Bread  to  eat ; 
this  is  the  laft  Speech  you  may  ever  expect  from  the 
Big  Knives,  the  next  thing  will  be  the  Tomahawk. 
And  You  may  expect  in  four  Moons  to  see  Your  Wo- 
men &  Children  given  to  the  Dogs  to  eat,  while  thofe 
Nations  that  have  kept  their  words  with  me  will  Flour- 
ifh  and  grow  like  the  Willow  Trees  on  the  River 
Banks  under  the  care  and  nourimment  of  their  father, 
the  Big  Knives. 

In  a  few  weeks  great  Numbers  came  in  to  St.  Vin- 
cents and  treated  for  Peace,  being  laughed  at  by  thofe 
that  had  ftrictly  adheard  to  their  former  Treaty  with  me. 
After  fixing  every  Department  fo  as  to  promife  future 
advantage  fending  Letters  to  County  Lieut,  of  Ken- 
tucky filiciting  him  to  make  fome  preparatory  ftrokes 
towards  Joining  me  when  called  on  with  all  the  force 
he  could  Raife,  leaving  a  fuflicient  Garrifon,  on  the 
2oth  of  march  I  fet  out  for  Kalkafkias  by  Water  with  a 
Guard  of  Eighty  men,  fpending  much  time  in  making 
fome  obfervation  at  different  Places ;  confequently  arrive 
too  late  to  have  hindered  a  War  that  commenced  between 
the  few  Delawares  refiding  in  this  part  of  the  World 
and  the  Inhabitants.;  a  few  of  them  that  had  joined 
the  Britifh  Party  knowing  what  had  hapned  went  to 
Kafkafkias,  as  was  fuppofed  to  compromife  matters; 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  83 

but  getting  drunk  with  fome  loofe  Young  fellows  gave 
fome  threats  on  each  fide;  one  of  the  Indians  fnapping 
a  Gun  at  a  Woman's  Breaft,  two  of  them  was  immedi- 
ately Killed  the  reft  purfu'd  by  the  Townfmen  fome 
diftance  down  the  River,  one  Killed  and  fome  others 
wounded.  The  War  was  carried  on  Pretty  equal  on  both 
fides  for  feveral  Months:  but  they  at  laft  thought 
proper  to  Silicit  a  Peace.  During  my  abfence,  Capt. 
Robert  George  commands  the  compy  formerly  Capt. 
Willings,  had  Arrived  from  Orleans,  taking  charge 
of  the  Garrifon  which  was  a  confiderable  Reinforce- 
ment to  our  little  Party.  Every  thing  having  the 
Appearance  of  Tranquility,  I  refolv'd  to  fpend  a  few 
weeks  in  Divertions  which  I  had  not  done  fince  my  Arri- 
val in  the  Illinois,  but  found  it  impoflible  when  I  had 
any  matter  of  importance  in  view,  the  Reduction  of 
Detroit  was  always  uppermoft  in  my  mind,  not  from 
a  motive  of  Applaufe;  but  from  the  defire  I  had  of 
Eftabliming  a  Profound  Peace  on  our  Fronteers;  being 
fo  well  acquainted  with  its  fituation,  Strength,  and  In- 
fluence; that  in  cafe  I  was  not  difappointed  in  the 
Number  of  Troops  I  expected  I  even  Accounted  Detroit 
my  own.  Receiving  letters  from  Col°-  Bowman  at 
Kentucky  informing  me  that  I  might  expect  him  to 
Reinforce  me  with  three  hundred  Men,  when  ever  I 
mould  call  on  him,  if  it  lay  in  his  power,  at  the  fame 
time  receiving  Intiligence  from  Col°-  Montgomery,  I 
now  thought  my  Succefs  reduced  to  a  certainty,  imme- 


84  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

diately  fet  about  making  Provifion  for  the  Expedition 
to  be  ready  againft  the  Arrival  of  Troops  to  give  the 
Enemy  as  little  time  as  Poflible  to  compleat  the  new 
fortifications  I  knew  they  were  then  about. 

I  fent  an  Exprefs  to  Col°-  Bowman,  defiring  him  to 
Join  me  on  the  2oth  of  June  at  St.  Vincents  with  all  the 
force  he  Poflibly  could  raife  agreeable  to  his  Letters  to 

me;    fent  out  Capt- *  among  the  different  nations 

of  Indians  to  receive  their  Congratulations  on  our  late 
Succefs  receive  the  fubmiffion  of  thofe  that  Refolved 
to  Defert  the  Englifh,  &c.,  as  well  as  to  get  frefh  Intil- 
igence  from  Detroit.  The  Civil  Departm*  In  the  Illinois 
had  heretofore  rob'd  me  of  too  much  of  my  time  that 
ought  to  be  fpent  in  Military  reflection,  I  was  now 
likely  to  be  relieved  by  Col°-  Jn°-  Toddf  appointed  by 
Government  for  that  purpofe;  I  was  anctious  for 
his  Arrival  &  happy  in  his  appointment  as  the  greateft 
intimacy  and  friendmip  fubfifted  between  us,  and  on 
the  —  day  of  may  had  the  Pleafure  of  feeing  him  fafely 
Landed  at  Kafkafkias  to  the  Joy  of  every  Perfon.  I 


*This  name  is  illegible  in  the  manuscript. 

fCol.  Clark,  having  desired  the  Governor  of  Virginia  to 
appoint  a  civil  commandant,  in  October,  1778,  an  act  was  passed 
establishing  the  county  of  Illinois,  embracing  within  its  boundary 
all  the  chartered  limits  of  Virginia  west  of  the  Ohio  river.  Col. 
John  Todd,  who  afterwards  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Blue 
Licks,  received  the  appointment  of  Civil  Commandant  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of  the  county. — Butler's  Kentucky,  p.  65. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  85 

now  faw  myfelf  happily  rid  of  .a  Piece  of  Trouble  that  I 
had  no  delight  in.  In  a  few  days  Col°-  Montgomery  Ar- 
rived, to  my  Mortification,  fourid  that  he  had  not  half 
the  Men  I  expected;  immediately  receiveing  a  letter 
from  Col°-  Bowman,  with  frefh  AfTurances  of  a  confider- 
able  Reinforcement.  The  officers  in  Gen1-  being  Anctious 
for  the  Expedition,  Refolved  to  Rendevous  according 
to  appointment,  and  if  not  deceived  by  the  Kentucky- 
ans,  I  mould  ftill  be  able  to  compleat  my  defign,  as  I 
only  wanted  Men  fufficient  to  make  me  appear  Refpect- 
able  in  Faffing  through  the  Savages  by  which  means  I 
could  on  the  March  Command  thofe  friendly  at  my 
eafe,  and  defy  my  Enemies.  Three  hundred  Men 
being  at  this  time,  fufficient  to  Reduce  the  GarrirTon  at 
Detroit,  as  the  new  Works  was  not  compleat,  nor  could 
not  be  accords  to  the  Plan  before  my  Arrival,  The 
Gentlemen  of  Detroit  not  being  Idle,  (having  fufficient 
reafon  to  be  convinced  that  they  were  in  no  danger 
from  the  Dep*  of  Pitfburg,  always  fufpicious  of  my 
Attaching  them  fenfible  of  my  growing  Intereft  among 
the  favages.  In  order  to  give  themfelves  more  time 
to  fortify  by  making  fome  divirtion  on  the  Illinois,) 
engaged  a  considerable  number  of  their  Savages  to 
make  an  Attempt  on  St.  Vincents;  thofe  Indians  that 
had  declared  for  the  American  Intereft,  in  order  to  mew 
their  Zeal  fent  word  to  them  that  if  they  had  a  mind 
to  fight  the  Boftonians  at  St.  Vincents,  they  muft  firft 
cut  their  way  through  them,  as  they  were  Big  Knives 


86  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

too.  This  effectually  ftopt  their  operation;  know- 
ing that  the  Expedition  depended  intirely  on  the  Ken- 
tuckians  turning  out,  I  began  to  be  fufpicious  of  a  dis- 
appointment on  hearing  of  their  Marching  againft  the 
Shawnee  Towns  which  proved  too  true  for  on  my 
arrival  at  St.  Vincents,  the  firft  of  July,  inftead  of 
two  or  three  hundred  men  that  I  was  promifed,  I  found 
only  about  thirty  Volunteers,  meeting  with  a  Repulfe 
from  the  Shawnees*  got  difcouraged  Confequently  not 
in  the  power  of  the  Comd  to  March  them  as  Militia, 
being  for  fome  time  (as  I  hinted  before)  fufpitious  of  a 
difappointment,  I  had  conducted  matters  fo  as  to  make 
no  111  impreflion  on  the  minds  of  the  Savages  in  cafe 
I  mould  not  proceed,  as  the  whole  had  fufpected  that 
my  defign  was  againft  Detroit;  Several  Nations  filicited 
me  to  go  and  fuffer  them  to  Join  me.  Various  was  the 
conjectures  refpecting  to  the  Propriety  of  the  Attempt 
with  the  Troops  we  had  (about  three  hundd  &  fifty), 
at  a  Council  of  War  held  for  the  purpofe  there  was  only 


*"Col.  Bowman  carried  on  an  expedition  against  the  Shawnese 
at  old  Chillicothe,  with  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  in  July, 
1779.  Here  they  arrived  undiscovered,  and  a  battle  ensued, 
which  lasted  until  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  when  Col.  Bowman,  find- 
ing he  could  not  succeed  at  this  time,  retreated  about  thirty 
miles.  The  Indians,  in  the  meantime,  collecting  all  their  forces, 
pursued  and  overtook  him,  when  a  smart  fight  continued  near 
two  hours,  not  to  the  advantage  of  Col.  Bowman's  party." 
Boone's  Narrative,  in  Imlay's  Western  Territory,  London,  1797, 
P-  352- 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  87 

two  cafting  voices  againft  it,  and  I  pretend  it  was  on 
account  of  Gen1  Sullivant's  Marching  on  Niagary, 
which  we  Juft  heard  that  ftopt  us,  that  there  was  no 
doubt  of  his  fuccefs.  Detroit  would  fall  of  courfe;  and 
confequently  was  not  worth  our  while  Marching  againft 
it :  although  I  knew  at  the  fame  time  Detroit  would 
not  fall  with  Niagary,  as  they  had  an  eafy  communica- 
tion with  Montreal  through  another  Channel,  by  way  of 
the  Grand  River.  A  number  of  Indians  vifited  me  at 
this  time  renewing  the  Chain  of  friendfhip  &c.;  To  all 
of  whom  I  gave  Gen1  fatisfaction, .except  that  of  my 
refutial  of  a  Tract  of  Land  that  their  Chief  had  formerly 
offered  me.  I  inquired  of  feveral  Gentlemen  acquainted 
with  them,  why  they  were  Silicitus  about  it;  their  oppin- 
ions  was  that  the  Indians  being  exceedingly  Jealous  of 
their  Lands  being  taken  without  their  Confent,  being 
told  by  the  Englim  that  I  had  a  defign  on  their  Coun- 
try, by  my  exceping  a  Tract  from  them  as  a  preas- 
ent,  would  prove  fufficiently  to  them  that  what  they 
had  been  told  was  falfe,  being  fatisfyed  in  this  they 
alfo  had  a  defire  of  my  Remaining  in  their  Country  as 
their  Chief  and  Guardian  and  that  my  refufial  had  given 
them  fufpicion ;  in  order  to  Remove  it  I  made  a  fuit- 
able  Speech  to  them  which  gave  Gen1  fatisfaction  and 
in  a  few  days  they  with  a  great  deal  of  Ceremony  pre- 
fented  me  the  following  Deed  of  gift: 


Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 


By  the  TOBACOES  SON,  Grand  Chief  of  all  the  Peankejhaws 
Nations  and  of  all  the  Tribes,  Grand  D ore  to  the  Ouabache 
as  ordered  by  the  Mafter  of  Life,,  holding  the  Tomahawk 
in  one  hand  and  Peace  in  the  other:  Judging  the  Nations, 
giving  entrance  for  thoje  that  are  for  Peace,  and 
making  them  a  clear  road,  &c. 

DECLARATION. 

WHEREAS  for  many  Years  paft,  this  once  Peaceable 
Land  hath  been  put  in  confufion  by  the  Englifh  encour- 
aging all  People  to  Raife  the  Tommahawk  Againft  the 
Big  Knives,  faying  that  they  were  a  bad  People,  Rebel- 
lious, and  ought  to  be  put  from  under  the  Sun,  and 
their  names  to  be  no  more. 

But  as  the  Sky  of  our  Councils  was  always  Mifty, 
and  never  Clear  we  ftill  was  at  a  lofs  to  know  what  to  do, 
hoping  that  the  Mafter  of  Life  would  one  Day  or  other 
make  the  Sky  Clear  and  put  us  in  the  right  Road.  He 
taking  Pitty  on  us  fent  a  father  among  us  (Col°.  George 
Rogers  Clark)  that  has  cleared  our  eyes  And  made  our 
Paths  ftraight  defending  our  Lands,  &c.,  So  that  we 
now  enjoy  Peace  from  the  Rifing  to  the  Setting  of  Sun; 
and  the  Nations  even  to  the  heads  of  the  great  River 
(meaning  the  Meflicippi)  are  happy  and  will  no  more 
liften  to  Bad  Birds  ;  but  abide  by  the  Councils  of  their 
great  father,  A  Chief  of  the  Big  Knives  that  is  now 
among  us. 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark. 


AND  whereas  it  is  our  defire  that  he  mould  long 
remain  among  us,  that  .we  may  take  his  Council  and  be 
happy,  it  alfo  being  our  defire  to  give  him  Lands  to  re- 
fide  on  in  our  Country  that  we  may  at  all  times  fpeak 
to  him.  After  many  Silicitations  to  him  to  make  choice 
of  a  Tract,  he  chufing  the  Lands  adjoining  the  falls  of 
Ohio  on  the  weft  fide  of  faid  River. 

I  do  hereby  in  the  names  of  all  the  Great  Chiefs 
and  Warriers  of  the  Ouabafh  and  their  Allies,  Declare 
that  fo  much  Lands  at  the  falls  of  Ohio  contained  in  the 
following  bounds,  to-wit,  Begining  oppofite  the  middle 
of  the  firft  Ifland  below  the  falls,  Bounded  upwards 
by  the  weft  Bank  of  the  River  fo  far  as  to  include  two 
Leagues  and  half  on  a  ftraight  line  from  the  begining, 
thence  at  right  angles  with  faid  line  two  Leagues  & 
half  in  Breadth,  in  all  its  Parts  mail  hereafter  and  ever 
be  the  fole  property  of  our  great  father  (Col°.  Clark) 
with  all  things  thereto  belonging,  either  above  or 
below  the  Earth  mail  be  and  is  his ;  except  a  Road 
through  faid  Land  to  his  Door,  which  mall  remain  ours, 
and  for  us  to  walk  on  to  fpeak  to  our  father.  All 
Nations  from  the  Rifing  to  the  feting  of  the  Sun,  that 
are  not  in  alliance  with  us  are  hereby  warned  to  efteem 
the  faid  gift  as  facred  and  not  to  make  that  Land  tafte 
of  Blood;  that  all  People  either  at  peace  or  War  may  re- 
pair in  fafety  to  get  Council  of  our  father.  Whoever 
firft  darkens  that  Land  mail  no  longer  have  a  Name. 
This  declaration  mall  forever  be  a  Witnefs  between  all 


90  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Nations  and  our  Prefent  G*  father;  that  the  faid  Lands 
are  forever  hereafter  his  Property.  In  witnefs  whereof 
I  do  in  the  name  of  all  the  Great  Chiefs  and  War- 
riers  of  the  Ouabafh  in  open  Council  affix  my  mark 
and  Seal  done  at  St.  Vincents  this  i6th  day  of  June 
1779. 

(Signed)  FRANCIS  SON  OF  TOBACCO. 

Which  Deed,  I  excepted,  and  Indeavoured  to  convince 
them  how  much  I  Prifed  fo  liberal  a  gift  &c  as  I  had 
no  Idea  of  haveing  Property  in  the  Lands  myfelf, 
knowing  the  Laws  of  my  Country  Juftly  againft  it ;  I 
chofe  it  at  the  falls  of  Ohio  fufpecting  that  I  might 
hereafter  find  it  neceflary  to  fortify  that  Place  for  the 
conveniency  of  free  Intercourfe.  Having  a  Number  of 
fupernumery  Officers  I  fent  them  Into  the  Settlement 
Recruiting,  finding  the  Intereft  of  the  Department  re- 
quired me  to  fpend  a  few  months  at  the  Falls  of  Ohio 
being  alfo  Induced  with  the  hopes  of  giving  the  Shaw- 
neefs  a  Drubing  in  cafe  a  fufficient  force  Could  be 
again  raifed  at  Kentucky;  After  giving  proper  Inftruc- 
tion  for  the  direction  of  the  Comds  of  the  different 
Pofts  I  fet  out  for  the  falls  where  I  Arrived  fafe  on  the 
2Oth  day  of  Auguft.  I  received  an  Exprefs  from  his 
Excellency  much  to  my  Satisfaction  having  frefh 
Aflurance  of  a  fufficient  Reinforcement  and  his  Inten- 
tion of  Errecting  a  Fortification  at  or  near  the  mouth 


Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  91 

of  Ohio,*  fo  much  the  defire  of  every  Perfon  it  being 
a  Place  of  great  Importance,  and  by  having  a  Strong 
fortification  &c  it  would  immediately  be  the  Mart  and 
Key  of  the  Weftern  Country;  all  my  Expectations  in 
my  being  here  has  been  difappointed  (except  laying  up 
a  confiderable  quantity  of  Beef)  by  lownefs  of  the  Ohio 
which  (is)  fo  remarkable  that  it  would  be  worth  Record- 
ing, few  being  able  to  navagate  it  with  the  fmalleft 
Canoes  for  feveral  months  Paft. 

I  mail  not  for  the  future  leave  it  in  Your  Power 
to  accufe  me  for  a  Neglect  of  friendship,  but  mail  con- 
tinue to  tranfmit  to  You  whatever  I  think  worth 

Your  notice. 

I  am  Sir  with  Efteem  Yours. 

N.  B.  As  for  the  defcription  of  the  Illinois 
Country  which  you  feem  fo  anctious  for  you  may  ex- 
pect to  have  by  the  enfuing  fall  as  I  expect  by  that 


*"In  1780,  Col.  Clark  descended  the  Ohio  from  the  Rapids 
with  his  Virginia  regiment,  and  established  Fort  Jefferson  at  the 
point  where  the  line  of  latitude  of  thirty-six  degrees  thirty  min- 
utes strikes  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi.  The  Chickasaw 
Indians  then  had  title  to  the  country  west  of  the  Tennessee 
and  were  exasperated  by  such  a  movement  of  apparent  hostility. 
Between  that  tribe  and  the  colonies  an  unbroken  friendship  had 
existed  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  which  it  was  exceed- 
ingly important  to  preserve.  The  fort  was  abandoned  therefore, 
as  soon  as  their  dissatisfaction  was  known,  and  the  immediate 
consequence  was,  the  restoration  of  their  attachment  and  confi- 
dence "  Morebead's  Address,  p.  84. 


9  2  Campaign  in  the  Illinois. 

Period  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  more  Gen1  Idea  of  it. 
this  You  may  take  for  granted  that  its  more  Beautiful 
than  any  Idea  I  could  have  formed  of  a  Country  almoft 
in  a  ftate  of  Nature,  every  thing  you  behold  is  an  Ad- 
ditional Beauty;  On  the  River  You'll  find  the  fineft 
Lands  the  Sun  ever  (hone  on;  In  the  high  Country 
You  will  find  a  Variety  of  Poor  &  Rich  Lands  with 
large  Meadows  extending  beyond  the  reach  of  Your 
Eyes  Varigated  with  groves  of  Trees  appearing  like 
Iflands  in  the  Seas,  covered  with  BurHoes  and  other 
Game;  in  many  Places  with  a  good  Glafs  You  may  fee 
all  thofe  that  is  on  their  feet  in  half  a  Million  of  Acres ; 
fo  level  is  the  Country,  which  fome  future  day  will 
excell  in  Cattle.  The  Settlements  of  the  Illinois  com- 
menced about  one  hundred  Years  ago  by  a  few  Traders 
from  Canada,  my  Reflections  on  that  head  its  citu- 
ation  the  probability  of  a  flouriming  Trade  the  ftate 
of  the  Country  at  Prefent  what  its  capable  of  Produc- 
ing, My  oppinion  Refpecling  the  caufe  of  thofe  exten- 
five  Plains  &c,  the  Advantages  arifing  by  ftrong  forti- 
fications and  Settlements  at  the  mouth  of  Ohio.  The 
different  Nations  of  Indians,  their  Traditions,  Numbers, 
&c.,  you  may  expect  in  my  next. 

G.  R.  CLARK. 


APPENDIX 


Appendix.  95 


A. 

Instructions  to  Colonel  Clark. 

(PUBLIC.) 
LIEUT.  COLONEL  GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK: 

You  are  to  proceed,  without  loss  of  time,  to  enlist  seven 
companies  of  men,  officered  in  the  usual  manner,  to  act  as  militia 
under  your  own  orders.  They  are  to  proceed  to  Kentucky,  and 
there  to  obey  such  orders  and  directions  as  you  shall  give  them, 
for  three  months  after  their  arrival  at  that  place ;  but  to  receive 
pay,  etc.,  in  case  they  remain  on  duty  a  longer  time. 

You  are  empowered  to  raise  these  men  in  any  county  in  the 
Commonwealth  ;  and  the  county  lieutenants,  respectively,  are 
requested  to  give  all  possible  assistance  in  that  business. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Williamsburgh,  January  2,  1778. 

P.   HENRY. 


96  Appendix. 

(PRIVATE.*) 
VIRGINIA  SCT. 

In  Council,  Wmsbug,  Jan.  2,  1778. 
LIEUT.  COLONEL  GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARK.  : 

You  are  to  proceed  with  all  convenient  Speed  to  raise  Seven 
Companies  of  Soldiers  to  consist  of  fifty  men  each  officered  in 
the  usual  manner  &  armed  most  properly  for  the  Enterprise, 
&  with  this  Force  attack  the  British  post  at  Kaskasky. 

It  is  conjectured  that  there  are  many  pieces  of  Cannon  & 
military  Stores  to  considerable  amount  at  that  place,  the  taking 
&  preservation  of  which  would  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
State.  If  you  are  so  fortunate  therefore  as  to  succeed  in  your 
Expectation,  you  will  take  every  possible  Measure  to  secure  the 
artillery  &  stores  &  whatever  may  advantage  the  State. 

For  the  Transportation  of  the  Troops,  provisions,  &c., 
down  the  Ohio,  you  are  to  apply  to  the  Commanding  Officer  at 
Fort  Pitt  for  Boats,  &c.  during  the  whole  Transaction  you  are  to 
take  especial  Care  to  keep  the  true  Destination  of  your  Force 
secret.  Its  success  depends  upon  this.  Orders  are  therefore 
given  to  Captn  Smith  to  secure  the  two  men  from  Kaskasky. 
Similar  conduct  will  be  proper  in  similar  cases. 

It  is  earnestly  desired  that  you  show  Humanity  to  such  Brit- 
ish Subjects  and  other  persons  as  fall  in  your  hands.  If  the  white 
Inhabitants  at  the  post  &  the  neighbourhood  will  give  undoubted 
Evidence  of  their  attachment  to  this  State  (for  it  is  certain  they 
live  within  its  Limits)  by  taking  the  Test  prescribed  by  Law  and 


*From  &fac-simile  copy  of  the  original. 


Instructions.  97 


by  every  other  way  &  means  in  their  power,  Let  them  be  treated 
as  fellow  Citizens  &  their  persons  &  property  duly  secured. 
Assistance  &  protection  against  all  Enemies  whatever  shall  be 
afforded  them,  &  the  commonwealth  of  Virginia  is  pledged  to 
accomplish  it.  But  if  these  people  will  not  accede  to  these 
reasonable  Demands,  they  must  feel  the  Miseries  of  War,  under 
the  direction  of  that  Humanity  that  has  hitherto  distinguished 
Americans,  &  which  it  is  expected  you  will  ever  consider  as 
the  Rule  of  your  Conduct,  &  from  which  you  are  in  no  Instance 
to  depart. 

The  Corps  you  are  to  command  are  to  receive  the  pay  & 
allowance  of  Militia  &  to  act  under  the  Laws  &  Regulations 
of  this  State  now  in  Force  as  Militia.  The  Inhabitants  at  this 
Post  will  be  informed  by  you  that  in  Case  they  accede  to  the 
offers  of  becoming  Citizens  of  this  Commonwealth  a  proper 
Garrison  will  be  maintained  among  them  &  every  Attention 
bestowed  to  render  their  Commerce  beneficial,  the  fairest  pros- 
pects being  opened  to  the  Dominions  of  both  France  &  Spain. 

It  is  in  Contemplation  to  establish  a  post  near  the  Mouth  of 
Ohio.  Cannon  will  be  wanted  to  fortify  it.  Part  of  those  at 
Kaskasky  will  be  easily  brought  thither  or  otherwise  secured  as 
circumstances  will  make  necessary. 

You  are  to  apply  to  General  Hand  for  powder  &  Lead 
necessary  for  this  Expedition.  If  he  can't  supply  it  the  person 
who  has  that  which  Cape  Lynn  brot  from  Orleans  can.  Lead 
was  sent  to  Hampshire  by  my  orders  &  that  may  be  delivered 
you.  Wishing  you  success,  I  am 

Sir, 

Your  h'ble  Serv., 

P.  HENRY. 


98  Appendix. 


B. 

Major  Bowman's  Journal. 

From  Louisville  Literary  News- Letter,  Nov.  21,  1840. 

"We  publish  below  a  journal  of  the  expedition  of 
General  Clark  against  the  British  post  at  Vincennes  in 
1779,  commencing  with  his  march  from  Kaskaskia.  It 
was  kept  by  Joseph  Bowman,  one  of  the  Captains  in 
the  expedition,  and  is  referred  to  by  Mr.  Butler  in  his 
"History  of  Kentucky"  as  "Major  Bowman  s  Journal" 
the  writer  having  subsequently  held  the  rank  of  Major. 
At  the  time  where  this  journal  commences,  Clark  was 
in  possession  of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia.  Vincennes 
had  once  been  gained  over  to  him  through  the  influence 
of  a  French  priest,  M.  Gibault;  but  as  Clark  had  not 
soldiers  to  spare  sufficient  to  maintain  a  garrison  there, 
it  had  been  retaken  by  Gov.  Hamilton.  The  journal 
will  explain  the  sequel. 

The  orignal  manuscript  of  this  journal — much 
effaced,  and  in  some  places  illegible — is  in  possession 
of  the  Kentucky  Historical  Society.  The  Vincennes 
Historical  and  Antiquarian  Society  have  a  copy,  which 
we  transcribed  for  them  and  for  the  use  of  our  friend 
Judge  Law  of  that  place." 


Major  Bowman's  Journal.  99 


JOURNAL   OF    THE    PROCEEDINGS  OF   COL.  GEO.  R.  CLARK, 
FROM  27TH  JANUARY,   1779,  TO  MARCH  2OTH  INST. 

M.  Vigo,  a  Spanish  subject,  who  has  been  at  Post  St.  Vin- 
cents on  his  lawful  business,  arrived  and  gave  us  intelligence  that 
Gov.  Hamilton,  with  thirty  regulars  and  fifty  volunteers  and 
about  400  Indians,  had  arrived  in  November  and  taken  that 
Post  with  Capt.  Helm  and  such  other  Americans  who  were 
there  with  arms,  *  *  (two  or  three  words  illegible}  *  * 
and  disarmed  the  settlers  and  inhabitants.  On  which  Col. 
Clark  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  and  it  was  concluded  to  go 
and  attack  Gov.  Hamilton  at  St.  Vincents ;  for  fear,  if  it 
was  let  alone  till  Spring,  that  he,  with  all  the  force  that  he  could 
bring,  would  cut  us  off  *  *  (a  part  of  a  leaf  is  here  torn  off 
from  the  MS.) 

Jan.  31  st.  Sent  an  express  to  Cahokia  for  volunteers  and 
other  extraordinary  things. 

Feb.  i.  Orders  given  for  a  large  batteau  to  be  repaired 
and  provisions  got  ready  for  the  expedition  concluded  on. 

id.  A  pack-horse  master  appointed  and  ordered  to  prepare 
pack-saddles,  &c.,  &c. 

3<£  The  galley  or  batteau  finished — called  her  the  Willing. 
Put  her  loading  on  board,  together  with  two  four-pounders  and 
four  swivels,  ammunition,  &c.,  &c. 

\tb.  About  10  o'clock  Capt.  McCarty  arrived  with  a 
company  of  volunteers  from  Cahokia  ;  and  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  (after)  noon,  the  batteau  set  off  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.  Rogers,  with  forty-six  men,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  a 
certain  station  near  St.  Vincents,  till  farther  orders. 

$tb.     Raised    another  company   of   volunteers,  under  the 


ioo  Appendix. 

command  of  Capt.  Francis  Charleville,  which,  added  to  our 
force,  increased  our  number  to  170  men  *  *  (torn  off"} 
*  *  artillery,  pack-horses,  men,  &c. ;  about  3  o'clock 
we  crossed  the  Kaskaskia  with  our  baggage  and  marched  about 
a  league  from  town.  Fair  and  drizzly  weather.  \Began  our 
march  early.  \JVlade  a  good  march  for  about  nine  hours,  the 
road  very  bad,  with  mud  and  water.  Pitched  our  camp  in  a 
square,  baggage  in  the  middle ;  every  company  to  guard  their 

own  squares. 

8tb.  Marched  early  through  the  waters,  which  we  now 
began  to  meet  in  those  large  and  level  plains,  where,  from  the 
flatness  of  the  country,  (the  water)  rests  a  considerable  time 
before  it  drains  off.  Notwithstanding  which  our  men  were  in 
great  spirits,  though  much  fatigued. 

qth.  Made  another  day's  march.  Fair  the  part  of  the 
day. 

loth.  Crossed  the  river  of  the  Petit  Fork  upon  trees  that 
were  fell  for  that  purpose.  The  water  being  so  high  there  was 
no  fording  it, — still  raining  and  no  tents — encamped  near  the 
river.  Stormy  weather. 

nth.  Crossed  the  Saline  river.  Nothing  extraordinary 
this  day. 

I2th.  Marched  across  Cot  plains  ;  saw  and  killed  numbers 
of  buffaloes.  The  road  very  bad  from  the  immense  quantity  of 
rain  that  had  fallen.  The  men  much  fatigued.  Encamped  on 
the  edge  of  the  woods.  This  plain  or  meadow  being  fifteen  or 
more  miles  across,  it  was  late  in  the  night  before  the  baggage 
and  troops  got  together.  Now  twenty-one  miles  from  St.  Vin- 
cents. 

Arrived  early  at  the  two  Wabashes.     Although  a 


Major  Bowman  s  Journal.  101 

league  asunder  they  now  made  but  one.  We  set  to  making  a 
canoe. 

j^-tb.  Finished  the  canoe  and  put  her  into  the  river  about 
4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

i$tb.  Ferried  across  the  two  Wabashes,  it  being  then  five 
miles  in  water  to  the  opposite  hills,  where  we  encamped.  Still 
raining.  Orders  not  to  fire  any  guns  for  the  future  but  in  case 
of  necessity. 

i6tb.  Marched  all  day  through  rain  and  water,  crossed  Fox 
river.  Our  provisions  began  to  be  short. 

ijth.  Marched  early — crossed  several  runs,  very  deep. 
Sent  Mr.  Kennedy,  our  commissary,  with  three  men,  to  cross 
the  river  Embarras,  if  possible,  and  proceed  to  a  plantation  oppo- 
site Port  St.  Vincents,  in  order  to  steal  boats  or  canoes  to  ferry 
us  across  the  Wabash.  About  an  hour  by  sun  we  got  near  the 
river  Embarras.  Found  the  country  all  overflown  with  water. 
We  strove  to  find  the  Wabash.  Traveled  till  8  o'clock  in  mud 
and  water,  but  could  find  no  place  to  encamp  on.  Still  kept 
marching  on.  But  after  some  time  Mr.  Kennedy  and  his  party 
returned.  Found  it  impossible  to  cross  Embarras  river.  We 
found  the  water  falling  from  a  small  spot  of  ground  ;  staid  there 
the  remainder  of  the  night.  Drizzly  and  dark  weather. 

iStb.  At  break  of  day  heard  Gov.  Hamilton's  morning 
gun.  Set  off  and  marched  down  the  river.  Saw  some  fine 
land.  About  two  o'clock  came  to  the  bank  of  the  Wabash  ; 
made  rafts  for  four  men  to  cross  and  go  up  to  town  and  steal 
boats.  But  they  spent  day  and  night  in  the  water  to  no  pur- 
pose, for  there  was  not  one  foot  of  dry  land  to  be  found. 

iqth.  Capt.  McCarty's  company  set  to  making  a  canoe  ; 
and  at  3  o'clock  the  four  men  returned  after  spending  the  night  on 
some  old  logs  in  the  water.  The  canoe  finished,  Capt.  McCarty 


IO2  Appendix. 

with  three  of  his  men  embarked  in  the  canoe  and  made  the  third 
attempt  to  steal  boats.  But  he  soon  returned,  having  discovered 
four  large  fires  about  a  league  distant  from  our  camp,  which 
seemed  to  him  to  be  fires  of  whites  and  Indians.  Immediately 
Col.  Clark  sent  two  men  in  the  canoe,  down  to  meet  the  batteau, 
with  orders  to  come  on  day  and  night ;  that  being  our  last  hope, 
and  (we)  starving.  Many  of  the  men  much  cast  down,  partic- 
ularly the  volunteers.  No  provisions  of  any  sort,  now  two  days. 
Hard  fortune  ! 

20th.  Camp  very  quiet  but  hungry ;  some  almost  in 
despair;  many  of  the  Creole  volunteers  talking  of  returning. 
Fell  to  making  more  canoes,  when,  about  12  o'clock,  our  centry 
on  the  river  brought  to  a  boat  with  five  Frenchmen  from  the 
Post,  who  told  us  we  were  not  as  yet  discovered,  that  the  inhab- 
itants were  well  disposed  towards  us,  &c.  Capt.  Willing's  bro- 
ther, who  was  taken  in  the  fort,  had  made  his  escape  to  us. 
And  that  one  Masonville,  with  a  party  of  Indians,  were  then 
seven  days  in  pursuit  of  him,  with  much  news, — more  news  to 
our  favor,  such  as  repairs  done  the  fort,  the  strength,  &c.,  &c. 
They  informed  us  of  two  canoes  they  had  adrift  some"  distance 
above  us.  Ordered  that  Capt.  Worthington,  with  a  party,  go 
in  search  of  them.  Returned  late  with  one  only.  One  of  our 
men  killed  a  deer,  which  was  brought  into  the  camp.  Very 
acceptable. 

21  st.  At  break  of  day  began  to  ferry  our  men  over  in  our 
two  canoes  to  a  small  hill  called  the  Momib  or  Bubbriss.  Capt. 
Williams,  with  two  men,  went  to  look  for  a  passage  and  were 
discovered  by  two  men  in  a  canoe,  but  could  not  fetch  them  to. 
The  whole  army  being  over,  he  thought  to  get  to  town  that 
night,  so  plunged  into  the  water  sometimes  to  the  neck,  for  more 
than  one  league,  when  we  stopped  on  the  next  hill  of  the  same 


Major  Bowman  s  Journal.  103 

name,  there  being  no  dry  land  on  any  side  for  many  leagues. 
Our  pilots  say  we  cannot  get  along,  that  it  is  impossible.  The 
whole  army  being  over  we  encamped.  Rain  all  this  day — no 
provisions. 

lid.  Col.  Clark  encourages  his  men,  which  gave  them 
great  spirits.  Marched  on  in  the  waters.  Those  that  were 
weak  and  famished  from  so  much  fatigue,  went  in  the  canoes. 
We  came  one  league  farther  to  some  sugar  camps,  where  we 
stayed  all  night.  Heard  the  evening  and  morning  guns  from  the 
fort.  No  provisions  yet.  Lord  help  us  ! 

23^.  Set  off  to  cross  the  plain  called  Horse-shoe  Plain, 
about  four  miles  long,  all  covered  with  water  breast  high.  Here 
we  expected  some  of  our  brave  men  must  certainly  perish,  having 
froze  in  the  night,  and  so  long  fasting.  Having  no  other  resource 
but  wading  this  plain,  or  rather  lake,  of  waters,  we  plunged  into 
it  with  courage,  Col.  Clark,  being  first,*  taking  care  to  have  the 


*  Without  food,  benumbed  with  cold,  up  to  their  waists  in 
water  covered  with  broken  ice,  the  men  composing  Clark's  troops 
and  at  one  time  mutinied,  refused  to  march.  All  the  persuasions 
of  Clark  had  no  effect  on  the  half-starved  and  half-frozen  soldiers. 
In  one  of  the  companies  was  a  small  boy  who  acted  as  drummer. 
In  the  same  company  was  a  sergeant,  standing  six  feet  two  inches 
in  his  stockings,  stout,  athletic,  and  devoted  to  Clark.  Finding 
that  his  eloquence  had  no  effect  upon  the  men,  in  persuading 
them  to  continue  their  line  of  march,  Clark  mounted  the  little 
drummer  on  the  shoulders  of  the  stalwart  sergeant,  and  gave 
orders  to  him  to  plunge  into  the  half-frozen  water.  He  did  so, 
the  little  drummer  beating  the  charge  from  his  lofty  perch,  while 
Clark,  with  sword  in  hand,  followed  them  giving  the  command 
as  he  threw  aside  the  floating  ice — "  FORWARD  ! "  Elated  and 
amused  with  the  scene,  the  men  promptly  obeyed,  holding  their 
rifles  above  their  heads,  and  in  spite  of  all  obstacles,  reached  the 
high  land  beyond  them  safely.  Law's  Vincennes,  p.  32. 


IO4  Appendix. 

boats  try  to  take  those  that  were  weak  and  numbed  with  the  cold 
into  them.  Never  were  men  so  animated  with  the  thought  of 
avenging  the  wrongs  done  to  their  back  settlements,  as  this  small 
army  was. 

About  one  o'clock  we  came  in  sight  of  the  town.  We 
halted  on  a  small  hill  of  dry  land  called  Warren's  Island,  where 
we  took  a  prisoner  hunting  ducks,  who  informed  us  that  no  per- 
son suspected  our  coming  at  that  season  of  the  year.  Col.  Clark 
wrote  a  letter  by  him  to  the  inhabitants,  in  the  following  man- 
ner: 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  Post  St.  Vincents  : 

GENTLEMEN  : — Being  now  within  two  miles  of  your  village 
with  my  army,  determined  to  take  your  Fort  this  night,  and  not 
being  willing  to  surprise  you,  I  take  this  method  to  request  such 
of  you  as  are  true  citizens,  and  willing  to  enjoy  the  liberty  I 
bring  you,  to  remain  still  in  your  houses.  And  those,  if  any 
there  be,  that  are  friends  to  the  King,  will  instantly  repair  to  the 
fort  and  join  the  Hair-buyer  General* and  fight  like  men.  And 
if  any  such,  as  do  not  go  to  the  Fort  shall  be  discovered  after- 
wards, they  may  depend  on  severe  punishment.  On  the  con- 
trary, those  that  are  true  friends  to  liberty,  may  depend  on  being 
well  treated.  And  I  once  more  request  them  to  keep  out  of  the 
streets  ;  for  every  one  I  find  in  arms  on  my  arrival,  I  shall  treat  as 

an  enemy. 

(Signed,)  G.  R.  CLARK. 

In  order  to  give  time  to  publish  this  letter,  we  lay  still  till 


*  Alluding  to  the  fact  that  Gov.  Hamilton  had  offered  rewards  for 
the  scalps  of  Americans. 


Major  Bowman  s  Journal.  105 

about  sundown,  when  we  began  our  march  all  in  order,  with 
colours  flying  and  drums  braced.  After  wading  to  the  edge  of  the 
water  breast  high,  we  mounted  the  rising  ground  the  town  is 
built  on  about  8  o'clock.  Lieut.  Bayley,  with  fourteen  regulars, 
was  detached  to  fire  on  the  Fort,  while  we  took  possession  of  the 
town,  and  ordered  to  stay  till  he  was  relieved  by  another  party, 
which  was  soon  done.  Reconnoitered  about  to  find  a  place  to 
throw  up  an  entrenchment.  Found  one,  and  set  Capt.  Bow- 
man's company  to  work.  Soon  crossed  the  main  street,  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  from  the  first  gate.  We  were 
informed  that  Capt.  Lamath,  with  a  party  of  twenty-five  men, 
were  out  on  a  scout,  who  heard  our  firing  and  came  back.  We 
sent  a  party  to  intercept  them,  but  missed  them.  However,  we 
took  one  of  their  men,  and  one  Capt.  Maison  Ville,  a  principal 
man ;  the  rest  making  their  escape  under  the  cover  of  the  night 
into  the  fort.  The  cannon  played  smartly.  Not  one  of  our 
men  wounded.  Men  in  the  Fort  badly  wounded.  Fine  sport 
for  the  sons  of  Liberty. 

lAftb.  As  soon  as  daylight,  the  Fort  began  to  play  her  small 
arms  very  briskly.  One  of  our  men  got  slightly  wounded. 
About  9  o'clock  the  Colonel  sent  a  flag  with  a  letter  to  Gov- 
ernor Hamilton.  The  firing  then  ceased,  during  which  time  our 
men  were  provided  with  a  breakfast,  it  being  the  only  meal  of 
victuals  since  the  i8th  inst. 

Col.  Clark's  Letter  as  follows : 

«  Sir: — In  order  to  save  yourself  from  the  impending  storm 
that  now  threatens  you,  I  order  you  immediately  to  surrender 
yourself,  with  all  your  garrison,  stores,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.  For  if  I 
am  obliged  to  storm,  you  may  depend  on  such  treatment  is  as 
justly  due  to  a  murderer.  Beware  of  destroying  stores  of  any 


io6  Appendix. 

kind,  or  any  papers,  or  letters,  that  are  in  your  possession  ;  for, 
by  Heavens,  if  you  do,  there  shall  be  no  mercy  shown  you. 
(Signed)  G.  R.  CLARK." 


Answer  from  Gov.  .Hamilton. 

"  GOVERNOR  HAMILTON  begs  leave  to  acquaint  Col.  Clark, 
that  he  and  his  garrison  are  not  disposed  to  be  awed  into  an 
action  unworthy  of  British  subjects." 

The  firing  then  began  very  hot  on  both  sides.  None  of 
our  men  wounded  ;  several  of  the  men  in  the  Fort  wounded 
through  the  port  holes,  which  caused  Governor  Hamilton  to 
send  out  a  flag  with  the  following  letter : 

"  GOVERNOR  HAMILTON  proposes  to  Col.  Clark  a  truce  for 
three  days ;  during  which  time  he  proposes  there  shall  be  no 
defensive  work  carried  on  in  the  garrison,  on  condition  that  Col. 
Clark  shall  observe,  on  his  part,  a  like  cessation  of  any  offensive 
work.  That  is,  he  wishes  to  confer  with  Col.  Clark  as  soon  as 
can  be ;  and  promises,  that  whatever  may  pass  between  them 
two  and  another  person  mutually  agreed  upon  to  be  present,  shall 
remain  secret  till  matters  be  finished,  as  he  wishes  that  whatever 
the  result  of  their  conference,  it  may  be  to  the  honour  and  credit 
of  each  party.  If  Col.  Clark  makes  a  difficulty  of  coming  into 
the  fort,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton  will  speak  to  him  by  the  gate. 

(Signed)  HENRY   HAMILTON. 

Feb.,  '79." 


Major  Bowman's  Journal.  107 


Col.  Clark's  Answer. 

"  COL.  CLARK'S  compliments  to  Gov.  Hamilton,  and  begs  to 
inform  him  that  he  will  not  agree  to  any  other  terms  than  that 
of  Mr.  Hamilton's  surrendering  himself  and  garrison  prisoners 
at  discretion.  If  Mr.  Hamilton  is  desirous  of  a  conference  with 
Col.  Clark,  he  will  meet  him  at  the  church  with  Capt.  Helm. 

G.  R.  C. 

Feb.  24,  '79" 

The  messenger  returned  with  the  above  answer,  during 
which  time  came  a  party  of  Indians  down  the  hill  behind  the 
town,  who  had  been  sent  by  Gov.  Hamilton  to  get  some  scalps 
and  prisoners  from  the  falls  of  the  Ohio.  Our  men  having  got 
news  of  it,  pursued  them,  killed  two  on  the  spot,  wounded  three, 
took  six  prisoners;  brought  them  into  town.  Two  of  them 
proving  to  be  white  men,  that  they  took  prisoners,  we  released 
them,  and  brought  the  Indians  to  the  main  street  before  the  Fort 
gate,  there  tomahawked  them,  and  threw  them  into  the  river; 
during  which  time  Col.  Clark  and  Governor  Hamilton  met  at  the 
church.  Governor  Hamilton  produced  certain  articles  of  capitu- 
lation, with  his  name  signed  to  them,  which  were  refused.  The 
Colonel  told  him  he  would  consult  with  his  officers  and  let  him 
know  the  terms  he  would  capitulate  on.  Terms  as  follows : 

1.  That  Lieut.   Col.   Hamilton  engages  to   deliver  up  to 
Col.  Clark,  Fort  Sackville,  as  it  is  at  present,  with  all  the  stores, 
&c.,  &c.,  &c. 

2.  The  garrison  are  to  deliver  themselves  as   prisoners  of 
war,  and  march  out  with  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  &c.,  &c. 


io8  Appendix. 

3.  The  garrison  to  be  delivered  up  at  10  o'clock  to- 
morrow. 

4.  Three   days'  time  to  be  allowed  the  garrison  to  settle 
their  accounts  with  the  inhabitants  and  traders  of  this  place. 

5.  The  officers  of  the  garrison  to  be  allowed  the   neces- 
sary baggage,  &c.,  &c. 

Signed  at  Post  St.  Vincents,  24th  Feb.,  1779. 
Agreed   to  for  the  following  reasons :     The    remoteness 
from  succors;  the  state  and  quantity  of  provisions,  &c.;   una- 
nimity  of  officers  and   men  in  its  expediency;  the  honourable 
terms  allowed ;  and,  lastly,  the  confidence  in  a  generous  enemy. 
(Signed)  HENRY  HAMILTON, 

Lieut.  Gov.  and  Superintendent. 

2$tb.  About  10  o'clock  Capt.  Bowman  and  Capt.  McCar- 
ty's  companies  paraded  on  one  side  of  the  Fort  gate.  Governor 
Hamilton  and  his  garrison  marched  out,  whilst  Col.  Clark, 
Captains  Williams'  and  Worthington's  companies  marched  into 
the  Fort,  relieved  the  Gentries,  hoisted  the  American  colours, 
secured  all  the  arms.  Governor  Hamilton  marched  back  to  the 
Fort,  shut  the  gate.  Orders  for  thirteen  cannon  to  be  fired ; 
during  which  time  there  happened  a  very  unlucky  accident 
through  mismanagement.  There  blew  up  twenty-six  six-pound 

cartridges  in  one  of  the  batteries,  which  burned  Capt.  Bowman 

o  ,,,•.,..".. 

and  Capt.  Worthington  much,  together  with  four  privates. 

No  account  of  our  batteau  yet. 

26th.  Rain  all  day.  Captains  Helm,  Henry,  and  Major 
Legare,  with  fifty  men  of  the  militia,  ordered  to  proceed  up  the 
river  with  three  boats,  with  a  swivel  each,  to  meet  ten  boats 
that  were  sent  in  October  last,  for  provisions  and  stores  to  Omi, 
and  to  take  the  same  in  custody. 


Major  Bowman  s  Journal.  109 

2jth.  The  Willing,  our  batteau,  arrived,  to  the  great  morti- 
fication of  all  on  board,  that  they  had  not  the  honour  to  assist  us. 
In  the  same  came  William  Mires,  from  Williamsburgh,  with 
very  good  news.  Captain  Bowman  receives  a  Major's  commis- 
sion enclosed  from  the  Governor. 

2%th.     Nothing  extraordinary. 

March  ist.  The  officers  discharged  on  parole.  Nothing 
extraordinary. 

2d,  3</,  and  ^.th.     Wet  weather. 

$th.  About  10  o'clock  Captain  Helm  arrived.  His  party 
took  seven  boats  loaded  with  provisions  and  bale-goods,  &c., 
taken  from  the  enemy,  with  the  following  prisoners :  Mr.  Dejean, 
Grand  Judge  of  Detroit,  Mr.  Adimar,  Commissary,  with  thirty- 
eight  privates.  Letters  taken  from  the  enemy,  dated  Detroit, 
the  6th  February,  say,  they  are  much  afraid  of  our  people  in  the 
spring.  Pray  Gov.  Hamilton  to  come  back  again.  War  was 
not  as  yet  declared  between  France  and  England.  Sent  off  a 
party  of  volunteers  to  Kaskaskias. 

6th.     A  very  rainy  day.     Nothing  extraordinary. 

jth.  Capt.  Williams  and  Lieut.  Rogers,  with  twenty-five 
men,  set  off"  for  the  Falls  of  Ohio,  to  conduct  the  following  pris- 
oners, viz :  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton,  Major  Hays,  Capt.  Lamoth, 
Mons.  Dejean,  Grand  Judge  of  Detroit,  Lieut.  Shiflin,  Doct. 
M'Beth,  Francis  M'Ville,  Mr.  Bell  Fenilb,  with  eighteen  pri- 
vates. Nothing  extraordinary. 

8th,  qth,  loth,  nth,  iyh,  and  i^tk.  Cloudy  weather  and 
rain  all  the  foregoing  week.  This  morning  Mr.  Mires  set  off 
for  Williamsburg  with  two  men. 

i$th.  A  party  of  Peaians  and  Meami  Indians  waited  on 
Col.  Clark,  and  assured  him  of  fidelity,  &c.,  to  the  Americans, 


no  Appendix. 

and  begged  protection.  In  the  meantime  there  arrived  an  ex- 
press from  Kaskaskias,  by  which  we  learn  that  Capt.  George, 
with  forty-one  men,  had  arrived  there  from  New  Orleans,  and 
taken  command  of  Fort  Clark ;  and  also  that  Jas.  Willings  had 
resigned  his  command  to  the  said  Capt.  George,  and  that  he 
and  Capt.  Mackintire  had  embarked  for  Philadelphia.  Wm. 
Mires  returned,  not  being  able  to  go  by  land  to  the  Falls  of 
Ohio,  the  country  overflowing  with  water. 

i6tb.  Most  of  the  prisoners  took  the  oath  of  neutrality, 
and  got  permission  to  set  out  for  Detroit.  Sent  by  them  a  copy 
of  the  alliance  between  France  and  the  thirteen  United  States. 

ijth.     Nothing  extraordinary. 

iSth.     Snow  and  rain  the  best  part  of  the  day. 

igtb.  Orders  for  six  boats  to  be  made  ready  to  return  to 
Kaskaskias  with  prisoners. 

20th.  The  boats  ready  and  loaded.  Capt.  M'Carty  takes 
command  of  the  Willing;  Capt.  Keller,  Capt.  Worthington, 
Ensign  Montgomery,  Ensign  Lorraine,  each  to  take  charge  of 
one  boat.  Sergeant  and  six  men  to  take  the  small  boat  called 
the  Running  Fly.  About  4  o'clock  the  whole  embarked,  leav- 
ing Lieut.  Brashers  in  command  of  the  Fort,  with  Lieut.  Baily, 
Lieut.  Chapman,  forty  men,  Serjeant  and  Corporals  included, 
to  the  care  of  the  garrison  till  relieved  from  Kaskaskias.  Capt. 
Helm  commands  the  town  in  all  civil  matters,  and  superinten- 
dent of  Indian  affairs,  Mr.  Moses  Henry,  Indian  Agent,  Mr.  Pat- 
rick Kennedy,  Quartermaster.  The  boats,  after  rejoicing,  are 
run  out  of  sight.  God  send  them  a  good  and  safe  passage." 


Major  Bowman's  Journal.  1 1 1 

THIS  JOURNAL  was  taken  from  Major  Bowman,  and  revised 
by  a  person  who  was  in  the  expedition.  He  has  kept  it  for  his 
own  amusement,  but  it  does  not  come  near  what  might  be  wrote 
upon  such  an  extraordinary  occasion,  had  it  been  handled  by  a 
person  who  chose  to  enlarge  upon  it.  It  afforded  matter  enough 
to  treat  on ;  the  season  of  the  year  when  undertaken,  and  the 
good  conduct,  shows  what  might  have  been  done  with  an  army, 
let  the  difficulties  be  what  they  will.  Persevering  and  steadi- 
ness will  surmount  them  all,  as  was  the  case  with  our  brave  com- 
mander, and  all  his  officers,  not  forgetting  his  soldiers.  Although 
a  handful  in  comparison  to  other  armies,  they  have  done  them- 
selves, and  the  cause  they  were  fighting  for,  credit  and  honour, 
and  deserve  a  place  in  history  for  future  ages  ;  that  their  pos- 
terity may  know  the  difficulty  their  forefathers  had  gone  through 
for  their  liberty  and  freedom.  Particularly  the  back  settlers  of 
Virginia  may  bless  the  day  they  sent  out  such  a  commander, 
officers,  and  men.  I  say,  to  root  out  that  nest  of  vipers,  that 
was  every  day  ravaging  on  their  women  and  children;  which  I 
hope  will  soon  be  at  an  end,  as  the  leaders  of  these  murderers 
will  soon  be  taken  and  sent  to  Congress. 

GOD  SAVE  THE  COMMONWEALTH. 
Finis. 

'79- 

(  On  the  next  blank  page.} 

GOD  SAVE  THE  COMMONWEALTH,  this  I5th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1779. 


Index. 


ADIMAR,  Mr.,  British  Commissary,  109. 
Au  Poste.     See  Vincennes. 
Aux  Miamis.     See  Omee. 

BAILEY,  Lieutenant,  49,  68,  105,  no. 

Blinn,  Daniel,  Agent  of  the  people  of  Illinois,  3. 

Boundaries  settled,  6. 

Boone's  Narrative,  reference  to,  86. 

Border  warfare  in  Kentucky,  15. 

Bowman,  Captain  Joseph,  notices  of,  25,  37,46,  55,  57,  61,  65, 
83,  84,  85,  105,  108.  Captures  Cahokia,  35.  Expedition 
against  the  Shawnees,  86.  Journal  of  the  Expedition  against 
Vincennes,  98.  Receives  a  Major's  commission,  109. 

Brashears,  Lieutenant,  no. 

Butler's  History  of  Kentucky,  references  to,  29,  52,  63,  69,  84. 

CAHOKIA.     Situation,  31.     Captured,  35. 

Casseday's  History  of  Louisville,  reference  to,  27. 

Celeron,  Mr.,  a  British  Agent,  49. 

Chapman,  Lieutenant,  no. 

Charleville,  Captain  Francis,  65,  100. 

Chenowith,  Rd.,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Louisville,  27. 

Chip-kaw-kay,  Indian  village  at  Vincennes,  32. 

Clark,  George  Rogers,  plans  Expedition  against  the  Illinois,  I, 
17,  22.  Conquest  of  the  Illinois,  5.  Results  of  the  cam- 
paign, 5,  7.  Biographical  sketch,  9.  Birth,  9.  In  Dun- 
more's  war,  9.  Refuses  commission  in  British  service,  10. 


H4  Index. 

CLARK,  GEORGE  ROGERS — Continued. 

Removes  to  Kentucky,  10.  Kentucky  delegate  to  Virginia, 
ii.  Waits  on  the  Governor  and  Council,  n.  Returns  to 
Kentucky  with  powder,  13.  Sends  spies  to  Illinois,  17. 
Expeditions  against  the  Ohio  Indians,  18,  20.  Builds  Fort 
Jefferson,  18,  91.  Scheme  for  the  reduction  of  Detroit, 
19.  Made  Brigadier  General,  19.  Offered  commission  as 
Major  General  in  French  army,  20.  Death,  20. 

Cohos.     See  Cakokia. 

Collins'  Historical  Sketches  of  Kentucky,   sketch   of  Col.  Clark 
from,  9. 

Congress,  act  of  1780,  6. 

Connelly,  John,  patents  site  of  Louisville,  27. 

DEJEAN,  grand  judge  of  Detroit,  captured,  75,  109.     Taken  to 

Virginia,  77,  109. 
Detroit,  Clark's  designs  on,  16,  23,  48,  50,  85,  86.     General 

Mclntosh's  expedition  against,  51.     He  returns,  52. 
Dillard,  Captain,  26,  27. 
Drummer  boy,  anecdote  of,  103. 

EMBARRASS  River,  66. 

FAITH,  William,  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Louisville,  27. 

Fenilb,  Mr.  Bell,  109. 

Forbes,  General,  28. 

Fort  Duquesne,  28. 

Fort  Jefferson  built,  3,  91. 

Fort  Massac,  28. 

Fort  Sackville,  at  Vincennes,  32.     Surrendered,  52,  75. 

Fort  St.  Joseph  taken  by  the  Spanish,  4. 

Fort  Wayne,  53. 

France,  claims  of,  to  the  Illinois  country,  2,  3. 

Francis,  son  of  Tobacco,  deed  of  land  to  Clark,  88. 

Franklin,  Dr.  B.,  on  the  western  boundary,  3. 

French,  many,  enter  Clark's  service,  37. 


Index.  .  115 

GENET,  French  minister,  20. 

George,  Captain  Robert,  83,  no. 

Gibault,  Pierre,  priest  at  Kaskaskia,  33,  35,  56,  65. 

HAIR-BUYER  General  (Hamilton),  104. 

Haldimand,  Sir  Frederick,  British  Governor  of  Quebec,  78. 

Hamilton,  Henry,  British  Governor  of  Vincennes,  retakes  that 

post,  52.      Surrenders  to  Clark,  75.     Sent  to  Virginia,  77, 

109.     Subsequent  career,  77. 
Hand,  General,  furnishes  supplies,  25. 
Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  General  Assembly  at,  to. 
Hays,  British  Major,  77,  109. 
Helms,  Captain,  notices  of,  25,  37,  38,  49,  75,  108,  109,  no. 

Commands  at  Vincennes,  37.     Surrenders,  52.     Anecdote, 

69.     Captures  party  from  Detroit,  75,  109. 
Henderson  &  Co.,  claims  to  Kentucky,  10,  u,  12. 
Henry,  Captain,  108. 
Henry,  Moses,  55  (?),  108. 
Henry,  Patrick,  Governor  of  Virginia,  II,  22.     Instructions  to 

Col.  Clark,  95,  96. 
Hutchins,  Lieutenant,  deserts,  27. 

ILLINOIS  Country,  claims  of  France,  Spain,  Great  Britain,  and 
the  United  States  to,  2,  3,  4.  Captured  by  Clark,  5. 
Described,  91. 

Illinois  County,  established  by  Virginia,  5,  84. 

Illinois,  Incidents  of  the  Expedition  against :  Clark  presents 
his  plans  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Virginia,  22.  Is 
given  the  command  of  the  Expedition,  23.  Sets  out  for  the 
Falls,  25.  Encamps  on  Corn  Island,  27.  Sets  out  for  the 
Illinois,  28.  Captures  Kaskaskia,  31.  Cahokia,  35.  Vin- 
cennes, 37.  Treats  with  the  Indians,  37,  46.  Vincennes 
re-occupied  by  Gov.  Hamilton,  52.  Attempt  to  capture 
Clark,  53.  Report  of  Hamilton's  advance  on  Kaskaskia, 
54.  Expedition  against  Vincennes,  65,  99.  Arrives  at 
the  Wabash,  65,  100.  Country  overflowed,  66,  101. 


1 1 6  Index. 

ILLINOIS — Continued. 

Arrives  near  the  town,  67.  Communicates  with  the  inhab- 
itants, 68,  104.  Attack  of  the  fort,  69,  105.  Demands 
surrender,  71,  105.  Surrender,  75,  108.  Capture  of  party 
from  Detroit,  75.  Prisoners  sent  to  Virginia,  77,  109. 
Clark  returns  to  Kaskaskia,  82.  Col.  John  Todd  appointed 
Civil  Commandant  of  Illinois  County,  83.  Clark  returns  to 
the  Falls,  90. 

Indians,  warfare  in  Kentucky,  15.  Expeditions  against  the 
Ohio,  18,  20,  86.  Attack  at  Kanawha,  25.  Clark's 
speeches  to,  38,  42,  43,  78,  80.  Attempt  to  abduct  Clark, 
41.  Chiefs  placed  in  irons,  41.  Treaties  with,  37, 46,  79. 
Offer  land  to  Clark,  79,  87. 

Indian  tribes  :  Cherokees,  n.  Chipoways,  41,  79.  Delawares, 
82.  Foxes,  41.  Kaskaskias,  38.  Kickapoos,  38,  69,  73, 
78.  Mechegames,  38.  Miamis,  46,  109.  Missesogies, 
41.  Ottoways,  41.  Petawatomies,  41.  Peorians,  38. 
Piankeshaws,  38,  69,  78,  88.  Puans,  41.  Sacs,  41. 
Sages,  41.  Shawnees,  86.  Tauways,  41. 

Instructions  to  Col.  Clark,  Public,  95.     Private,  96. 

JEBOTH.     See  Gibault. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  letter  to  Col.  Clark,  2. 

Jefferson's  Works^  reference  to,  37. 

Jones,  Gabriel,  Kentucky  delegate  to  Virginia,  u. 

KASKASKIA.  Situation,  30.  Capture,  31.  Report  of  Hamil- 
ton's advance  on,  54.  Clark's  return  to,  55.  Preparations 
for  defense  of,  56.  Burns  a  portion  of  the  town,  59.  False 
alarm,  61.  Trouble  at,  83.  Clark's  return  to,  83. 

Keller,  Captain,  no. 

Kennedy,  Patrick,  commissary,  101,  no. 

Kentucky,  Convention  at  Harrodsburg,  10.  Clark  and  Jones 
appointed  delegates  to  Virginia,  n.  Part  of,  claimed  by 
Henderson  &  Co.,  n,  12.  County  of,  formed,  13.  Border 
warfare  in,  15. 


Index.  ii  7 

LAFAYETTE,  town  of,  48. 

Lamothe,  British  Captain,  70,  77,  105,  109. 

Land,  grant  to  Clark  and  his  soldiers,  6.  Reserved  on  the 
Scioto  and  Little  Miami,  6.  Offered  by  the  Indians  to 
Clark,  79.  Refused,  79.  Accepted,  87.  Deed,  88. 

Law's  Colonial  History  of  Vincennes,  reference  to,  34,  63,  103. 

Lefont,  Dr.,  of  Kaskaskia,  36. 

Legare,  Major,  108. 

Leyba,  Francisco  de,  Spanish  Governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  46. 

Loraine,  Ensign,  no. 

Louisville,  settlement  of,  18,  27. 

Louisville  Literary  News-Letter,  quoted,  98. 

McBETH,  Doctor,  British,  109. 

McCarty,  Captain,  64,  65,  74,99,  101,  108,  no. 

Mclntosh,  General,  Expedition  against  Detroit,  51,  52. 

Mclntire,  Captain,  no. 

McManness,  J.,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Louisville,  27. 

M'Murtrie's  History  of  Louisville,  reference  to,  27. 

Mason,  Hon.  George,  of  Virginia,  Clark's   letter  addressed  to, 

I,  21. 

Masonville,  British  Captain,  70,  105. 

Mires,  William,  express  from  Williamsburg,  109,  110. 

Monette's  History  of  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  reference  to,  29. 

Montgomery,  Colonel,  26,  83,  85. 

Montgomery,  Ensign,  no. 

Morehead's  Address,  reference  to,  91. 

Morgan's  Celebrated  Canadians,  reference  to,  78. 

NEGOTIATIONS  at  Paris,  in  1782,  4. 

OHARRARD,  Captain,  25. 

Ohio  Indians,  Expeditions  against,  18,  20,  86. 

Omee,  an  Indian  village,  53,  108. 

Ouatenon,  a  French  settlement  on  the  Wabash,  48. 

Oueaugh.      See 


1 1  8  Index. 

PATTON,  James,  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Louisville,  27. 

Phillips,  British  General,  77. 

Pirtle,  Hon.  Henry,  Introduction  by,  i. 

Pope,  William,  lays  out  the  town  of  Louisville,  27. 

Post  St.  Vincent.     See  Vincennes. 

Prairie  du  Rocher,  an  old  French  village,  54. 

RAYNEVAL,  secretary  to  the  French  Minister,  4. 

Rocheblave,  British  Governor  of  Kaskaskia,  taken  prisoner,  31. 

Sent  to  Virginia.  37. 
Rogers,  Lieutenant,  64,  109. 

ST.  CROIX,  Lieutenant,  and  son,  74. 

St.  Vincents.     See  Vincennes. 

Saunders,  John,  guide,  29. 

Shiflin,  British  Lieutenant,  109. 

Smith,  Captain,  25,  26. 

Spain,  claims  of,  to  the  Illinois  country,  3.     Takes  possession  of 

Fort  St.  Josephs,  4. 
Spaniards  friendly  to  Col.  Clark,  35. 

Sparks'  Life  and  Writings  of  Washington,  reference  to,  77. 
Sullivan,  General,  87. 

TOBACCO'S  son  deeds  land  to  Clark,  88. 

Todd,   Colonel  John,  appointed  Civil  Commandant  of  Illinois 

County,  84. 
Treaty,  of  Paris,  1763,2.    England  and  America,  6.    With  the 

Indians,  37,  46,  79. 
Tuel,  John,  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Louisville,  27. 

VERGENNES,  Count  de,  Ninister  of  France,  4. 

Vigo,  Francis,  brings  intelligence  from  Vincennes,  62.  Notices 
of,  63,  99. 

Vincennes,  situation,  31.  Names,  32.  Occupied  by  Clark's 
forces,  37,  48,  49.  Surrendered  by  Capt.  Helms,  52.  In- 
telligence from,  63.  Clark's  Expedition  against,  64.  Arrival 


Index.  119 

VINCENNES — Continued. 

there,  67.    Communicates  with  the  inhabitants,  68.    Takes 
the  Fort,  75. 

Vinsenne,  Francis  Morgan  de,  32. 

Virginia,  acts  of    1781   and  1783,  6.     Sends  powder  to  Ken- 
tucky, 13. 

WASHINGTON,  General,  i,  37. 

Wea  river,  48. 

Williams,  Captain,  77,  102,  108,  109. 

Willings,  Captain  James,  83,  102,  HO. 

Worthington,  Captain  William,  65,  102,  108,  no. 


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